I have no political agenda: Dalai Lama

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IANS Dharamsala
Last Updated : May 08 2014 | 7:47 PM IST

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Thursday said he has no political agenda.

The Nobel Peace Laureate's statement came when he was asked: What did he feel about the Norwegian government's refusal to meet him in Oslo?

Such responses have become normal and the Dalai Lama accepts things as they are, said a post on his official web site, quoting the Dalai Lama.

"National interest is important, but I can assure you that the Dalai Lama is not a harmful person. My interest is to promote human values. If I had a political agenda, I might feel disappointed, but I don't."

The spiritual leader was invited to the Nobel Institute to mark the 25th anniversary of his Nobel Peace Prize.

The Dalai Lama said he was in California when he heard the announcement. He was asked how he felt.

"I said ... not much different. I am a simple Buddhist monk, no more, no less. But since the prize was in recognition of my commitment to non-violence and my work for peace, I felt it was a great honour."

Asked if he was disappointed that members of the Norwegian government and the parliament speaker would not meet him, he replied: "No, why?"

The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. The Tibetan exile administration is based in this northern Indian hill town.

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First Published: May 08 2014 | 7:38 PM IST

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