By IANS
New Delhi : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Saturday that the resolution of the Tibetan issue was crucial for “genuine friendship” between India and China even as Indian ministers stayed away from the function to felicitate him.
“Resolution of the issue of Tibet is relevant for India-China relationship. I really wish to see a genuine friendship between India and China,” the Dalai Lama said after being felicitated by some NGOs and religious leaders here for winning the US’ highest civilian award.
“I want to see the rekindling of the spirit of Hindi-Chini bhai bhai,” said the exiled Tibetan leader who has just returned from a visit to the US on winning the Congressional Gold Medal.
The 72-year-old Tibetan leader, however, lashed out at China for following the “policy of suppression” in Tibet, adding, “genuine harmony should come from the heart and not from the gun”.
Indian cabinet ministers kept away from the function following an advisory by the Cabinet Secretariat.
According to sources, a circular issued by Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar asked members of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s council of ministers to stay away from the function as 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 move is seen as a reflection of India’s desire not to upset Beijing on this sensitive issue as the Chinese leadership has taken strong objection to the US honouring the Tibetan leader.
New Delhi is also extremely circumspect not to create any controversy that can cast a shadow over the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Beijing, likely in January next year.
Congress president and India’s ruling coalition chief Sonia Gandhi visited China late last month, which was hailed by Beijing as a “milestone” in the history of Sino-Indian relations.
India and China have stepped up efforts to enhance their strategic and economic ties and set a speedy resolution of the decades-old border dispute as the objective of their strategic relationship.
The Tibetan leader, who has been in exile in India since 1959, was felicitated by the Gandhi Peace Foundation, the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet and the Core Group for Tibetan Cause upon receiving the US civilian award.
Invitations for the programme were sent to almost all the ministers and MPs of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, but except for one no MP attended, said an official in the Dalai Lama’s office here.
The only exceptions were former prime minister I.K. Gujral and Bashitha Narain Singh, an MP of Janata Dal-United and convener of All-India Parliamentary Forum for Tibet.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, who was scheduled to attend, did not come. She sent a message that was read out.
N.K. Trikha, convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause, however, denied that there was any deliberate boycott of the function.
“It would be irresponsible to say that. People did not come for different reasons,” he said.
The Dalai Lama accused China of what he called “demographic aggression”, saying his people had been reduced to a minority in his homeland under Beijing’s rule.
“Every Tibetan mind lives with fear and feeling of terror. The population of (Tibetan capital) Lhasa used to be 50,000 to 60,000. Now it is 300,000, of which 200,000 are Chinese,” he said.
The Dalai Lama also accused Beijing of a “cultural genocide”, while stressing that a railway line launched last year linking Tibet to the rest of China was being used for “exploitation of natural resources”.
The Tibetan leader stressed that he did not want any political position and quipped that he was semi-retired and looking forward to retirement from his political role.
“I am looking for complete retirement and (to) spend time on preparation of my next reincarnation,” the Dalai Lama told a gathering of diplomats, religious leaders and Tibetans.
“I want to make clear: the Dalai Lama may die, (but) the Tibetan community will remain,” he said to a ringing applause.
The Dalai Lama expressed a wish that his authority be handed over to the Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.
He showered lavish praise on India for giving him “another pleasant home”.