No red carpet welcome to Dalai Lama to placate

Expressbuzz, Jan 13, 2010
BHUBANESWAR: State BJP president Jual Oram today lashed out at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his Government’s cool treatment to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama.


Oram who is currently on a tour to western Orissa districts told mediapersons at Bhawanipatna, the district headquarters of Kalahandi, that the Chief Minister’s visit to Ganjam yesterday was deliberate. The Chief Minister does not want to antagonise the Maoists who are opposed to the spiritual leader for political reasons.

Describing the Maoists as agents of China, Oram said the Red rebels are opposed to the visit of Dalai Lama who is fighting for an independent Tibet.

The Chief Minister preferred to stay away from the spiritual leader just to appease the Maoists, he said.

The Chief Minister’s action is contrary to the foreign policy of the country which has been supporting the political struggle of the Tibetan people under the leadership of Dalai Lama, he said and added that the conduct of the Chief Minister in this context is of very `low taste’.

The Government by not according State guest status to Dalai Lama has lowered the prestige of the State for which he should apologise, he said.

Reiterating his party policy, Oram said the Maoists should be treated as anti-nationals so long they do not abjure violence. Their concern for the poor is a pretext to usurp state power by undemocratic means and the Government should tackle them by any means to restore law and order, he added.

Alleging that the Maoists are being used as muscle power of the ruling BJD, Oram said the Chief Minister is using the anti-nationals to eliminate his political rivals.

Arabinda Dhali, a new entrant to the BJD, is the best example.

Dhali who had escaped several attempts on his life by the Red rebels is now freely moving in Malkangiri district, he said.

The BJP president has been alleging that the Naveen Patnaik Government has a secret understanding with the ultras. He even dared the Chief Minister to visit the Maoist-infested Malkangiri district and stay for a night.

The State Congress also castigated the Government for not showing proper respect to the spiritual leader of the Buddhists.