Dalai Lama to visit Gulbarga tomorrow

Roads being repaired again within a year for the visit

The state is spending about Rs 2 crore in connection with the discourse programmes of the Nobel Peace laureate. During his visit the Dalai Lama will deliver discourses on topics such as Four Noble Truths, The Eight Fold Path, The Essence of Buddhism, and The Relevance of Buddhism to World Peace.

Official sources said that State had released Rs 1.75 crore to make the visit of the Tibetan spiritual leader in exile a success. The entire amount has been released to the Public Works Department to take up a number of works including erection of shamiana and construction of dais.

Preparations include repairs, improvement and widening of the approach road from the Gulbarga-Sedam Road to the Buddha Vihara located behind the Gulbarga University where seating arrangements are being made for 5,000 people. The bill of Rs 1.75 crore excludes the other protocol expenditure.

Earlier expense

The Yeddyurappa government had released Rs 6 crore to meet the expenses of the inauguration of the Buddha Vihara by President Pratibha Patil in January this year for the construction, improvement, repair, widening of roads and for creating other infrastructure. It is baffling that in less than a year the government is set to spend close to another couple of crores of rupees for the same purpose.

Dalai Lama is a State Guest, but his forthcoming visit is private in nature as he is coming here to deliver discourses. The event is organised by the Siddhartha Vihara Trust headed by the powerful Congress leader and union labour and employment minister Mallikarjun Kharge.

Kharge thanks CM

In his letter to the Chief Minister in September, Mallikarjuna Kharge, while thanking Yeddyurapa for enabling the Trust to conduct successfully the programme to unveil the idol of Lord Buddha by the Dalai Lama, stated that the latter would visit Gulbarga on December 19 and 20 and the State Government must make the necessary arrangements.

The district administration is busy in making arrangements for the last couple of weeks. Kharge conducted two meetings with the officers to review the progress. The state is leaving no stone unturned to extend foolproof security and protocol to Dalai Lama who will be accompanied by six security officials.