Arunachal BJP MP requests Indian government to confer Dalai Lama with Bharat Ratna

New Delhi: BJP MP Tapir Gao has asked for the Bharat Ratna to be conferred upon the Dalai Lama. In his speech during the Zero Hour on Wednesday, the lawmaker from Arunachal East said that the Indian government should recognise the institution of the Dalai Lama. 

“The institution of the Dalai Lama is in question today. Today, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is 91 years old. After that, the Nalanda Tibetan Buddhism has got the religious practice of reincarnations. But in China, the Communist Party has interfered saying that the 15th Dalai Lama will be approved and recognised by the Communist Party of China. Today a question mark exists on the matter,” Gao said during his intervention. 

Gao also said that the Dalai Lama is not only a spiritual leader of Tibetans, he is also a spiritual leader for Buddhists across the globe.

“The Dalai Lama stands as a symbol. That’s why, I request the government of India that he’s the messenger of peace and non-violence. India, a land of non-violence, should recognise the Dalai Lama by awarding him the Bharat Ratna for his service to the world,” Gao mentioned.

Speaking to DH, the BJP leader stated that if China picks the next Dalai Lama it will have implications across India. “From Walong in Arunachal Pradesh to Jammu and Kashmir — the entire Himalayan region will be affected by this decision,” he said. 

Gao, the co-convenor of the All India Parliamentarian Forum For Tibet, previously demanded India recognises the institution of the Dalai Lama. Last year, too, he had put forth the same demand during his speech in the Lok Sabha. 

Gao said that the Forum, which has MPs from across parties like BJP, Congress, and others, has over 80 signatories in support of the demand that the Dalai Lama be conferred the Bharat Ratna.