The Tibetan government-in-exile, which was earlier slated to organise two events in Delhi to observe the “60 years in exile” of the Dalai Lama, has cancelled one of the events, while other has been shifted to Dharamsala.
Dalai Lama was scheduled to attend both the events – an inter-faith prayer at the Gandhi Samadhi in Rajghat and ‘Thank You India’ programme at Thyagaraj stadium. These events were to take place on March 31 and April 1.
“The Thyagaraj stadium event has been shifted to Dharamsala now. And the inter-faith prayer at Rajghat has been cancelled for now,” Sonam Dagpo, spokesperson for the Central Tibetan Administration, told the Indian Express on Monday.
On February 26, an advisory mentioning “senior leaders” and “government functionaries” of the Centre and states was handed out saying that it was “not desirable” to participate in the events of the Tibetan leadership in exile.
According to the Indian Express, Tibetan administration had planned to send out invitations to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with former Deputy PMi L K Advani among others.
Last week, the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) responded to the report of advisory asking central and state government functionaries and leaders to stay away from the Dalai Lama-led “Thank You India” campaign saying that India’s position on the Tibetan leader is “unchanged”.
Responding to a newspaper report that cited a Union government advisory asking central and state government functionaries and leaders to stay away from the Dalai Lama-led “Thank You India” campaign, the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) on Friday said that Indias position on the Tibetan leader is “unchanged”.
“The government of India’s position on His Holiness the Dalai Lama is clear and consistent. He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India,” MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
“There is no change in that position. His Holiness is accorded all freedom to carry out his religious activities in India,” he added.
However, the MEA steered clear of commenting on the reported advisory sent out by the Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha on February 26 at the Foreign Secretary’s behest.
(With agency inputs)