Dharamsala, October 24: Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s scheduled meeting later this month with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Hanoi, the Indian government has reportedly treaded cautiously over reports about turning down a proposal from centrally-run Jamia Millia Islamia to award an honorary doctorate to the Dalai Lama next month.
“Dalai Lama is a very respected religious and spiritual leader for millions of Indians. The matter is receiving our attention,” IANS quoted Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao as telling reporters in the Indian capital New Delhi on Friday
Nirupama was reportedly reacting to reports about the external affairs ministry denying permission to Jamia Millia Islamia to award an honorary doctorate to the Tibetan leader.
However, Jamia’s Vice-Chancellor Najeeb Jung told a news channel that he received a formal communication from the human resource development ministry (HRD) on this. “The HRD ministry sent a copy of a fax it got from the external affairs ministry that this wasn’t an opportune time (to honour the Dalai Lama),” he said Friday.
Jung said he then urged Rao to reconsider the decision. “She assured me she would be happy to take a fresh look on the matter,” he said.
The external affairs ministry’s circumspect attitude towards the Dalai Lama comes in the wake of recent strains in bilateral ties over a host of issues, including the Chinese practice of issuing stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Dalai Lama, who has been living in India since 1959 after fleeing Chinese persecution, is regarded by the Indian government as an “honoured guest”.
Sources also told IANS that the government did not want to antagonise Beijing ahead of the meeting between Manmohan Singh and Wen in Hanoi Oct 29.
“There will be a meeting between the prime minister and the Chinese premier in Hanoi. There is enough space for India and China to grow together,” Rao sid, stressing positives ahead of the meeting.
Manmohan Singh will attend the India-ASEAN summit scheduled for Oct 30 and his meeting with Wen is expected to take place on the sidelines of the summit in Hanoi.
“China and India are important Asian countries. When the leaders of the two large neighbours meet, they discuss all issues,’ Rao said when asked whether the issue of stapled visas will figure during discussions.
“The agenda will be a rich and textured one,” she said.
