Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, India - His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu and the Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik to congratulate them both on their respective parties’ victories in recent State Assembly elections.
In his letter to Shri Pema Khandu he wrote: “As you know, I very much appreciate your friendship, and the affection and warmth that the people of Arunachal Pradesh have shown me during my visits there. Last month marked the 60th anniversary of our life in exile. I take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the State Government and people of Arunachal Pradesh for their friendship and kindness to the Tibetans settled there.”
Addressing Shri Naveen Patnaik he remarked: “Over the years, I have been able to visit Odisha quite regularly, and have enjoyed being able to meet and talk with you, as we did most recently in 2017. As you may know, there is a Tibetan Rehabilitation Settlement at Chandragiri in the District of Gajapati. May I, therefore, take this opportunity to express deep appreciation of the warm and friendly way Tibetans have been received there.”
He mentioned to both Chief Ministers his observation that in recent years much progress has been made to improve the lives of people in their states, especially the under-privileged, which he described as wonderful.
He wished both Shri Pema Khandu and Shri Naveen Patnaik every success in meeting the challenges involved in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha respectively.
