Confer Gandhi peace prize on Dalai Lama: Mankotia

Tribune News Service

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Dharamsala, October 15

Former minister Vijai Singh Mankotia today demanded that the Dalai Lama should be conferred with the International Gandhi Peace Prize.

Addressing a press meet here, the Congress leader took a dig at the current BJP government.

“The state government is holding an investors’ meet in Dharamsala in November. PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the event and Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the closing ceremony. The government is claiming that the meet would put Dharamsala on the international map. But, the city is already famous across the globe since the day the Dalai Lama made it his home in 1959,” he said.

Mankotia said several MPs had demanded Bharat Ratna for the Dalai Lama. But, the government had not taken a decision on the issue probably considering the international relations. “However, there cannot be anybody more deserving than him for the prize. The PM should announce the award for the Dalai Lama during his visit to Dharamsala now. It will send the message across the globe among the investors and will also recognise the leader’s contribution to the city,” he said.

Mankotia said he had already written to the PM and the CM regarding the issue. “The Dalai Lama should also be made integral part of the global meet,” he said.

On the Centre turning “harsh” towards the Tibetans in view of its relations with China, Mankotia said the PM was known for taking bold decisions. “I hope he shows same grit and bestows the peace award on the Dalai Lama,” he added.