Minister, Ram Madhav to attend Tibetan event

The Union government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will be represented by important figures at the celebratory event at Dharamsala to mark the 60th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s arrival in India.

Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma and BJP leader Ram Madhav will be in Dharamsala on Saturday, sources have confirmed.

The confirmation of participation is significant as Tibetan sources remained cautious about participation of Indian political figures in the event till Thursday. “We have not received anything in writing till now from the Central Tibetan Headquarters about the political participation and therefore, we are unable to declare the names of all the participants. But I am aware that Shanta Kumar, former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, is likely to participate in the event,” said Tsering Dhondup, media coordinator of the Bureau of His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

The cautious Tibetan line about political participation is explained by the fact that the event to be held in Dharamsala was initially planned for Delhi. However, the event was shifted to Dharamsala following reports that the Union government has instructed officials and Ministers to avoid the event. The participation by Mr. Madhav and Mr. Sharma is the first since the directive was sent out instructing officials to avoid Tibetan events. The event will be the first major event to begin year-long festivities to mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the spiritual leader to India and the Tibetan community, said a release.