The demand for Bharat Ratna for Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is gaining momentum. 80 MPs of the All Party Forum have signed the proposal. This proposal will be submitted to the Prime Minister and the President soon.
Dalai Lama Bharat Ratna: The demand to award the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is gaining momentum. More than 80 Members of Parliament (MPs) under the banner of the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum on Tibet have signed in support of this demand. This proposal may be submitted to the Prime Minister and the President soon.
Major Announcement on Dalai Lama's 90th Birthday
The Dalai Lama recently celebrated his 90th birthday in Dharamshala. During this, he made a major announcement regarding his successor. He handed over the right to choose the successor to the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he himself had established. Immediately after his decision, China's sharp reaction came to the fore. China claimed that the right to choose the successor belonged to its government.
Why did the Forum of MPs take this initiative?
Under the leadership of the convener of the All Party Forum, Bhartruhari Mahtab, several meetings have been held with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar has played an important role in this process.
Sujeet Kumar said that 80 MPs have already signed the proposal and the signatures of 20 more MPs are pending. The proposal will be formally sent to the Prime Minister and the President only after the support of 100 MPs.
Increased activity on Tibet as well
This forum of MPs has not only advocated for awarding the Bharat Ratna to the Dalai Lama, but also plans to raise the issue of Tibet on various national and international platforms. This includes everything from debates in Parliament to dialogue with international organizations. The forum believes that the issue of Tibet is not only religious or cultural, but also a humanitarian and geopolitical question.
A b reply to China
The forum has reacted sharply to China's statement on the Dalai Lama's successor. Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar said that China has no right to interfere in the selection of the Dalai Lama's successor. This is a matter of Tibetan tradition and religion, in which China's political interference is completely inappropriate.
China's objection and India's reaction
China had objected on July 2 to the Dalai Lama's announcement of a successor. China claims that the selection of the successor is its internal matter. But there is a clear disagreement on this in the political leadership and social classes in India. It is believed in India that the Dalai Lama's role is spiritual and the decision of his successor should be according to Tibetan religious tradition, not on the instructions of any political government.
Why Bharat Ratna for the Dalai Lama?
The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India for decades and is considered a symbol of non-violence, compassion, and peace. He has considered the land of India as his spiritual and cultural center. Considering his contributions, the demand to award him the Bharat Ratna has been raised for a long time.
The Dalai Lama has previously received prestigious awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize, the US Congressional Gold Medal. In such a situation, proposing his name for an honor like the Bharat Ratna reflects India's commitment to the Tibetan community and global human rights values.
