The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday, 2 March, that the Indian Government’s position on Dalai Lama is “clear and consistent”.
The clarification comes amid reports that the Centre is asking senior leaders and government officials not to attend events during the celebration of the 60th year of Tibetan leadership in India.
In its statement, the MEA said that there is “no change in the position” that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by people of India.
“He is accorded all freedom to carry out his religious activities in India,” said the MEA.
According to The Indian Express, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had sent a note to Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha asking the latter to issue an advisory to government officials and ministers instructing them “not to accept any invitation or to participate in the proposed commemorative events”.
According to the report, Sinha issued an advisory to the effect on 26 February, four days after Gokhale’s note.
The note was issued a day before Sinha, who was India’s ambassador to China in 2017 and helped resolve the Doklam crisis, flew to Beijing for talks with top Chinese leadership including Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
According to the report, the note draws attention to an upcoming event in New Delhi on 1 April in which the Tibetan leadership intend to thank India for the nation’s support and cooperation. India expects invites to senior officials to this event.
The move is being seen as an attempt to mend fences with Beijing, with which New Delhi’s relationship soured during the Doklam crisis.
The Dalai Lama is a “dangerous separatist” in Beijing’s eyes. China has repeatedly objected to India’s continuous support to The Dalai Lama. Due to its increasing global clout, Beijing has often been successful in arm-twisting other nations into preventing the entry of revered Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader.