According to the official website of the Manipur University which will be hosting the 105th Science Congress later this week, the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been invited as a chief guest where the inaugural speech is expected to be delivered by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Indian Science Congress (ISC)’s program details published in public domain lists the Prime Minister Modi to be giving the inaugural speech of the event while His Holiness the Dalai Lama is list to participate in the inaugural ceremony as the Chief Guest along with two other Nobel Laureates and some union ministers.
“The inaugural session will begin at 10 am on Friday, and will be attended by over 5,000 people. The Prime Minister, HRD Minister and the Dalai Lama will participate,” said a member of the organising committee.
However, it is unlikely that the Tibetan spiritual leader will be able to participate in the event in North East India over this weekend according to opinions of officials from Dharamshala. Currently the spiritual leader is presiding over the 33rd Mind & Life Dialogue ‘Reimagining Human Flourishing’ at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala on March 12 to March 16. More importantly, the PM Modi will not be sharing the stage along with His Holiness the Dalai Lama as it has been the latest diplomatic move form his government to make their dealings with China easier.
While senior Indian ministers and government functionaries were informed to skip Dalai Lama events through a circular issued recently, a scheduled Dalai Lama event in New Delhi was called off after reports of the circular came out. However, the Ministry of External Affairs informed that their stand on His Holiness the Dalai Lama remains same and clear.