CM writes to PM to allow 17th Karmapa to visit Sikkim

source:sikkimnow

GANGTOK, 10 Nov: The Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, as per his promise to the monk community of the state, as written to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh seeking the central government’s nod to permit the 17th Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorjee, to visit Sikkim.
It is informed that the letter was faxed to the Prime Minister early this week and includes an appeal by the chief minister on behalf of all the monks in the state that the centre allow the 17th Karmapa to visit Sikkim for the upcoming Lhabab Deuchen slated to be observed on 17 November. The letter, it is informed, also appeals to the Prime Minister to permit the Karmapa to visit Sikkim in consideration of the recent earthquake and the damage and distraught it effected upon the people. The visit of the Karmapa, the letter is informed to state, would bring much needed solace in the minds of the people.
As of now there has been no response from the central government to this appeal of the chief minister however people are in expectation of a positive response by the centre as both the Members of Parliament have also been deputed by the Chief Minister to pursue the matter in New Delhi. With the chief minister having left for New Delhi today it is also expected that he would personally pursue the matter with the Prime Minister.
Earlier this month, during his tour to North District, particularly Kabi, the chief minister had promised the monk community there that he would write to the Prime Minister to allow the Karmapa to visit Sikkim. The monk community there has been pursuing the matter relentlessly for the past few years and has been submitting that even if the 17th Karmapa cannot be permitted to visit his seat at Rumtek monastery in view of the controversy surrounding it, he may be permitted to come to Phodong instead.