BJP MP Urges Bharat Ratna for Dalai Lama in Lok Sabha

Fast Summary

• BJP MP Tapir Gao from Arunachal Pradesh urged the Indian government to award the Bharat Ratna to the Dalai Lama during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha on July 30, 2025.
• Gao described the Dalai Lama as a “messenger of non-violence and compassion” with unparalleled contributions to Buddhism and humanity.
• He highlighted that the Dalai Lama is a global symbol of peace and deserves recognition for shaping generations with his teachings.
• The Dalai Lama had recently celebrated his 90th birthday on July 6, announcing that the Gaden Phodrang Trust would decide his successor-a statement opposed by China, which insists reincarnations must be approved by its central government.
• Union Minister Kiren Rijiju supported the Dalai Lama’s stance,but India’s official position remains neutral on religious matters.
• the demand for conferring Bharat Ratna to the spiritual leader has previously gained traction; by mid-July 2025, BJP MP Sujeet Kumar reportedly collected over 80 signatures from parliamentarians across party lines.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The call for awarding India’s highest civilian honor-the Bharat Ratna-to the Dalai Lama underscores his profound influence as a spiritual leader globally.His promotion of peace and nonviolence resonates deeply with India’s philosophical traditions.Though, considering geopolitical sensitivities surrounding Tibet between india and China, any movement toward recognizing him at this level might spark notable diplomatic responses.

While individual leaders like Kiren Rijiju have expressed alignment with some of his views, India’s deliberate neutrality in matters involving faith reflects an attempt to strike a balance between honoring cultural figures and maintaining stable relations internationally. This ongoing push among certain MPs signals growing political support within domestic circles but also highlights challenges attached to aligning humanitarian tribute with broader foreign policy commitments.

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