Countries want to befriend India: Dalai Lama

FARUKKHABAD: Buddhist religious guru Dalai Lama today said the stature of India was on a rise worldwide and countries like US and Japan were keen to strengthen their ties with the country.

On being asked about the impact on China of US President Barack Obama's visit to the country, Dalai Lama, made no comment.

Dalai Lama, who is on a three day visit to Sankisa, said India was the largest democracy not only in Asia, but the entire world and added that powers like US and Japan and other countries were willing to strengthen ties with India, as its stature was rising.

He said the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela matched that of with Gautam Buddha, as all of them spread the message of peace.

He will give a sermon to thousands of followers in Mainpuri tomorrow.