Reportage – 2007

Indian ministers avoid Dalai Lama

MCLEOD GANJ, India, 6 November 2007 — The Dalai Lama returns to a rousing reception in Dharamshala after he was honoured with the US Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest US civilian honour. [ click here for print size   2.8M ]

MCLEOD GANJ, India, 6 November 2007 — Ministers of the government of India avoided a function on Saturday in the Indian capital of Delhi to felicitate the Dalai Lama for receiving the US Congressional Gold medal.

The government of India had issued a circular to its ministers asking them to stay away from the function, as their attendance would not correspond to government policy.

"It was not in conformity with the foreign policy of the government. And, therefore, you are directed not to accept the invitation," the circular reportedly said.

The Dalai Lama was honoured with the gold medal on 17 October at the Capitol Hill in Washington DC by US President George W Bush.

Also, soon after on 29 October, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper received the Dalai Lama officially, becoming the first Canadian PM to do so. The meeting drew a strong protest from China.

The Gandhi Peace Foundation, the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, and the Core Group for Tibetan Cause organised the Delhi programme upon the Dalai Lama receiving the highest US civilian award.

Subsequest reports suggest that to stop the ministers from attending the function was part of a "grand bargain" to win China's support for the India-US nuclear deal, and that it underlined New Delhi's desire not to risk its growing ties with Beijing.

India recognised the Tibetan Autonomous Region as part of China after the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to China in 2003.

In 1988, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, after a visit to China, commited not to allow the Dalai Lama to address any political rally or a public gathering in India.

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may visit Beijing in the next two months.