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Swarajya Staff
Jun 29, 2019, 10:29 AM | Updated 10:29 AM IST
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Dalai Lama, the supreme spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has advocated that only a “limited number” of migrants should be permitted to reside in Europe.
The exiled spiritual leader, who enjoys an exalted status among million of his followers across the globe, said that while Europe should continue to take in refugees and offer them an education, but subsequently return them back to their homelands.
“European countries should take these refugees and give them education and training, and the aim is return to their own land with certain skills," the revered religious head noted.
The Dalai Lama also noted that ultimate objective should be to rebuild the countries people have fled.
"A limited number is OK, but the whole of Europe [will] eventually become Muslim country, African country - impossible," he added
When the BBC interviewer persisted and queried them on what if people wanted to stay in the country they have taken refugee (70 million people displaced across the world according to the latest figures), the Dalai Lama remarked “ “They themselves I think better to their own land. Keep Europe for Europeans.”
The Dalai Lama has been consistent in advocating what many perceive as controversial and troubling views on migration.
In an address last year in Malmo, Sweden, the Dalai Lama reiterated that migrants should not stay in Europe but should return to help rebuild their own countries.
“Receive them, help them, educate them, but ultimately they should develop their own country,” he said and went to add that “I think Europe belongs to the Europeans.”