T
AWANG/BOMDI-LA: As the Dalai Lama prepares to visit West Kameng district which, like Tawang, had fallen to the Chinese in the 1962 conflict, the
Arunachal Pradesh government has initiated steps to prevent the spiritual leader from making any strong remarks against the Communist nation.
On the eve of his departure for Dirang and Bomdi-la in West Kameng district, state officials on Wednesday asked him to convert his public address, which was scheduled to take place in Tawang, into a religious congregation. "Keeping the sensitiveness of the area in mind, we've advised his holiness to amend his programme," said a senior official. The state also asked mediapersons covering the Dalai Lama's visit to leave Tawang as soon as his programme ended there on Wednesday afternoon.
It refused to extend the inner line permits (ILPs), which TOI requested to cover the Tibetan leader's two-day trip to West Kameng district. "We've got instructions not to extend ILPs beyond the Dalai's Lama's stay in Tawang," explained the official. The ILPs are mandatory for outsiders who want to visit the northeastern state. "Our officers reprimanded us for allowing the media to get close to the Dalai Lama. They said journalists are asking all sorts of questions about China," said a Central paramilitary force officer as he stopped these TOI correspondents at the Yid-Gha-Choezin Monastery in Tawang, where the world's most venerated monk had arrived to attend a religious congregation in the morning.
Even on Tuesday, sources said, the state government cancelled the Dalai Lama's visit to a monastery in the heart of Tawang town. Organizers of the Dalai Lama's visit also withdrew volunteers of the India-Tibet Friendship Society from the Nobel laureate's programmes. On Sunday, the first day of the Buddhist leader's visit, these volunteers had images of Indian and Tibetan flags on their T-shirts.
Last Friday, police had removed Tibetan flags from various locations. They also asked the Mon Autonomous Council Demand Committee, which has been fighting for autonomy for local Monpa Buddhists, to keep their office shut until the Dalai Lama left Tawang. The state government has been extra-cautious ever since the Dalai Lama criticised Beijing for its role in Tibet and its claim over Tawang on Sunday.
Despite fresh restrictions on his activities, the Dalai Lama continued to draw thousands of followers from within and outside the state. For the third consecutive day, Tawang town remained closed for about six hours as almost all its residents went to attend the Tibetan leader's discourse at the Yid-Gha-Choezin Monastery. He was also scheduled to visit the Urgelling Monastery on the outskirts of Tawang, where the Sixth Dalai Lama was born in the 17th century.
Despite the chilly weather, unprecedented enthusiasm was seen along the 186-km stretch from Tawang to Bomdi-la. All shops were closed. Local Buddhists draped the road with thousands of five-colour religious flags and erected welcome arches with sacred motifs at numerous places. "We are thrilled to find god's reincarnation among us," said Pema Thondup, a former Assam Rifles jawan from Themang.
AWANG/BOMDI-LA: As the Dalai Lama prepares to visit West Kameng district which, like Tawang, had fallen to the Chinese in the 1962 conflict, the
Arunachal Pradesh government has initiated steps to prevent the spiritual leader from making any strong remarks against the Communist nation.
On the eve of his departure for Dirang and Bomdi-la in West Kameng district, state officials on Wednesday asked him to convert his public address, which was scheduled to take place in Tawang, into a religious congregation. "Keeping the sensitiveness of the area in mind, we've advised his holiness to amend his programme," said a senior official. The state also asked mediapersons covering the Dalai Lama's visit to leave Tawang as soon as his programme ended there on Wednesday afternoon.
It refused to extend the inner line permits (ILPs), which TOI requested to cover the Tibetan leader's two-day trip to West Kameng district. "We've got instructions not to extend ILPs beyond the Dalai's Lama's stay in Tawang," explained the official. The ILPs are mandatory for outsiders who want to visit the northeastern state. "Our officers reprimanded us for allowing the media to get close to the Dalai Lama. They said journalists are asking all sorts of questions about China," said a Central paramilitary force officer as he stopped these TOI correspondents at the Yid-Gha-Choezin Monastery in Tawang, where the world's most venerated monk had arrived to attend a religious congregation in the morning.
Even on Tuesday, sources said, the state government cancelled the Dalai Lama's visit to a monastery in the heart of Tawang town. Organizers of the Dalai Lama's visit also withdrew volunteers of the India-Tibet Friendship Society from the Nobel laureate's programmes. On Sunday, the first day of the Buddhist leader's visit, these volunteers had images of Indian and Tibetan flags on their T-shirts.
Last Friday, police had removed Tibetan flags from various locations. They also asked the Mon Autonomous Council Demand Committee, which has been fighting for autonomy for local Monpa Buddhists, to keep their office shut until the Dalai Lama left Tawang. The state government has been extra-cautious ever since the Dalai Lama criticised Beijing for its role in Tibet and its claim over Tawang on Sunday.
Despite fresh restrictions on his activities, the Dalai Lama continued to draw thousands of followers from within and outside the state. For the third consecutive day, Tawang town remained closed for about six hours as almost all its residents went to attend the Tibetan leader's discourse at the Yid-Gha-Choezin Monastery. He was also scheduled to visit the Urgelling Monastery on the outskirts of Tawang, where the Sixth Dalai Lama was born in the 17th century.
Despite the chilly weather, unprecedented enthusiasm was seen along the 186-km stretch from Tawang to Bomdi-la. All shops were closed. Local Buddhists draped the road with thousands of five-colour religious flags and erected welcome arches with sacred motifs at numerous places. "We are thrilled to find god's reincarnation among us," said Pema Thondup, a former Assam Rifles jawan from Themang.
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