After India’s backtrack on dealing with China over Tibet, the scheduled Dalai Lama events in New Delhi has now been called off as desired by Indian government. An internal circular among the government officials to discourage them from attending the Dalai Lama events in the next few months sparked all these changes.
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale’s note to Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha who in turn directed the center and state government functionaries including senior ministers as well as officials to skip the ‘Thank You India’ events presided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama planned in New Delhi, it is reported that the event has now been shifted to Dharamshala.
In addition to shifting the ‘Thank You India’ event that observes 60 years of Tibetan Exile in India, an Inter-Faith Prayer to be presided over by His Holiness at Rajghat in New Delhi has also been cancelled for now.
Though Ministry of External Affairs immediately clarified of no shift in India’s stand on the Dalai Lama following the outbreak of the reports on the circular directing officials to skip Dalai Lama events at such a ‘sensitive time’ in its dealing with China, claiming that India’s stand remains same as before.
While the MEA spokesperson told that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is hugely respected by the people of India and he is free to perform his religious activities, the shift of the ‘Thank You India’ event and the cancellation of the Inter-faith prayer reports comes out during Dr. Lobsang Sangay, President of Tibetan Administration’s visit to New Delhi to meet Indian dignitaries following the unfolding of the circular mentioned above.
“The Thyagaraj stadium event has been shifted to Dharamsala now. And the inter-faith prayer at Rajghat has been cancelled for now.” confirmed Mr. Sonam Dagpo, Spokesperson of the Tibetan Administration (CTA) while speaking to the Indian Express. “India is host to Tibetan refugees. We respect the Indian government’s decision. We have no further comments.” he added on being asked about the circular.