(TibetanReview.net, Sep28, 2017) – The Dalai Lama is to visit Imphal, capital of the northeast Indian state of Manipur, to attend an international peace conference on Oct 17, reported ifp.co.in Sep 24. The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet has been invited to the conference by Mr Y Khemchand Singh, Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The report cited Mr Khemchand as saying the Dalai Lama will spend two days in Imphal and leave the city on Oct 19.
Khemchand had personally called on the Dalai Lama at his exiled home in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, in the beginning of this month, to extend the invitation. He was in the state to attend a workshop on “Tribal of India and social issues” which was held at Himachal Pradesh University.
The report said the Speaker had submitted a proposal to the state government for the Dalai Lama’s visit.
“Dalai (Lama) has consented to visit the conference. The conference aims to bring peace in the North eastern states,” economictimes.com had quoted Khemchand as saying Sep 5.
India has been waging decades of war with insurgency outfits in its northeastern states such as Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. During his 12-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in April this year, a militant outfit in Assam had warned him against engaging in anti-China activities. And his visit, especially to Arunachal, was severely and repeatedly criticized and condemned by China which lays claim to the state as Southern or South Tibet.
It even issued standardised’ – meaning official pinyin names – for six places in the state, calling them Wo’gyainling (for Ogyenling), Mila Ri, Qoidengarbo Ri (for Choeten Karpo Ri), Mainquka (for Menchuka), Bumo La and Namkapub Ri.