NEW DELHI – Indian government is ditching and embarrassing Tibet exiledleader Dalai Lama over the pressure of China.
Days after the government sent out a note asking senior leaders andgovernment functionaries of the Centre and states to stay away from eventsplanned to mark 60 years in exile of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetangovernment-in-exile has decided to cancel its two main events in New Delhi.
In its note, the government had underlined that it is a “very sensitivetime” for India’s relations with China.
The two events, which were to be attended by the Dalai Lama, were scheduledto take place in New Delhi — an inter-faith prayer at the Gandhi Samadhi inRajghat on March 31 and a ‘Thank You India’ event at the Thyagaraj SportsComplex on April 1.
Following a report in The Indian Express on March 2link>—it was the first to report on Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale’s note toCabinet Secretary P K Sinha who sent a directive to the Centre and states —the Tibetan government-in-exile decided to hold the ‘Thank You India’ eventin Dharamsala, either on March 31 or April 1.
Confirming the move, Sonam Dagpo, spokesperson for the Central TibetanAdministration, told The Indian Express Monday: “The Thyagaraj stadiumevent has been shifted to Dharamsala now. And the inter-faith prayer atRajghat has been cancelled for now.”
When his comments were sought on the government’s note, Dagpo said, “Indiais host to Tibetan refugees. We respect the Indian government’s decision.We have no further comments.” He said there had been no communication fromthe Indian government to the Tibetan administration on this issue.
While the Tibetan government-in-exile had put out a calendar of events forthe year to observe “60 years in exile”, it was not available on thewebsite Monday night. Dagpo, however, said participation in Yoga Day,Swachh Bharat, tree-plantation and other events will take place as planned.
The ‘Thank You India’ event at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in New Delhihad found specific mention in the Foreign Secretary’s note.
“There were plans for speeches by the Dalai Lama and some of our Indianfriends, from government, politics, academia and others, at the ThyagarajSports Complex.