Minister shares dais with Dalai Lama, India signals no change in Tibet policy to woo China

With a Union Minister sharing dais with Dalai Lama at an event in Dharamshala on Saturday, New Delhi signalled it had not budged from its protector stand towards Tibet to mend ties with China.

Union Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) Mahesh Sharma sat next to Dalai Lama, as the 82-year-old monk presided over an event at the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile (TGIE) in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. Ram Madhav, a general secretary of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, also attended the event, which the exiled Tibetans held to thank the government and people of India for playing host to them over the past six decades.

Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha late last month issued an advisory asking "senior leaders" and "government functionaries" in the states as well as at the Centre to stay away from events attended by Dalai Lama. With New Delhi and Beijing of late trying to bring their troubled ties back on track, the advisory fuelled speculation that India was shifting from its traditional approach on Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetans in order to avoid hurting the sensitivity of China.

With Sharma and Madhav sharing podium with Dalai Lama, New Delhi apparently sought to scotch the speculation and signalled that while India was keen to have better ties with China, it had not yet budged from its stand on Tibet.

"We remain committed to protect and support the Tibetan culture, its heritage and history," Sharma tweeted. "Tibetans are our friends and esteemed guests in India. We love to have this relation of togetherness and brotherhood."

The Union Minister also posted his and Madhav's pictures with Dalai Lama on Twitter.

Tutor, disciple bond

"India and Tibet share a bond of teacher and disciple," Dalai Lama said. "We the Tibetans call India the land of noble ones. No other country is referred by such name by the Tibetans. India is looked upon as land of reverence, respect and admiration; so there is a very strong bond between Tibet and India," added the spiritual leader of the Tibetans.

Madhav, however, referred to "One China" policy of India to tacitly underline that New Delhi did consider Tibet and Taiwan as part of the Communist country.

"The successive governments in India have followed One China Policy at political level. However, our bonds with the Tibetans are least political and intensely religious and cultural," the BJP general secretary posted on Facebook.

The TGIE held "Thank You India" event to mark the beginning of the 60th year after Dalai Lama escaped to India  after the occupation of Tibet by China in 1959.  

"India was and has remained the greatest supporter of Tibet. And I hope that India retains its unparalleled support for Tibet until our aspirations are realised," Lobsang Sangay, the president of TGIE, said.

Beijing  touchy

Some of the events are likely to be held at the India International Centre in New Delhi on Monday but the Dalai Lama  will not attend.

Beijing calls Dalai Lama a "splittist" and has been very sensitive about his stay in India and his visits in the country and abroad. China in April last year strongly criticised India for facilitating Dalai Lama's visits to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh – very close to the disputed boundary between the two nations.