Buddhists delegation meet PM

IBN Live, July 1, 2011

Itanagar, July 1 (PTI) A delegation of Himalayan Buddhists led by H E Tsona Gontse Rinpoche met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his office at New Delhi to discuss proposals for the welfare of the large number of Buddhism followers in the Himalayan belt, sources said today. During the half-an-hour meeting yesterday, the delegates put forward their request for the establishment of a Buddhist learning centre at Siliguri in West Bengal, Rinpoche said."This would promote India's influence in the region and help in checking the influence and spread of ideas inimical to the country's interests and inclusion of Bhoti language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution," he said in a release.The delegates also put forward an action plan for a 'national preparatory workshop' for 2600th anniversary of Buddha's enlightenment and Dharma Chakra Paravartana celebrations this year.