MEA bars honorary PhD for Dalai Lama

Saturday, October 23, 2010

India Today
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The Dalai Lama receives an honorary doctorate from Miami University president David Hodge, left, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

New Delhi-- The Centre has scuttled Jamia Millia Islamia University's plans to honour Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama with an honorary doctorate.
 
Jamia Vice-Chancellor Dr Najeeb Jung told Headlines Today that he received a formal communication from the Union HRD ministry on this.
 
"The HRD ministry sent a copy of a fax it got from the external affairs ministry that this wasn't an opportune time (to honour the Dalai Lama)," Dr Jung said on Friday.
 
Dr Jung said he then urged Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao to reconsider the decision. "She assured me she would be happy to take a fresh look on the matter," he said.
 
The external affairs ministry ministry's decision appears to arise from New Delhi's keenness not to ruffle Beijing's feathers as far as the exiled Tibetan leader is concerned.
 
Jamia's academic council and executive board had ratified the honorary doctorate, following which the Dalai Lama was informed. The honour was to be bestowed on him in November.
 
The university had earlier given honorary doctorates to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Air Marshal Arjan Singh.