Jenny Marra MSP - Dalai Lama Snub “very sad”
20 June 2012
Responding to reports in The Courier and The Times that Dundee City Council is distancing itself from a visit from the Dalai Lama in a number of ways, Jenny Marra, said:
"It is unfortunate that the Lord Provost cannot make the speech to welcome the Dalai Lama because of a bereavement.
“The SNP should get their most senior Dundee politician, like government Minister Shona Robison, to step in and make the welcoming speech in the Caird Hall.
"This would be an appropriate welcome to the Dalai Lama in the absence of the Lord Provost.
“The SNP Council and Government must make it clear to the Dali Lama that he is welcome in Dundee and Scotland. It is their civic and political duty to do so.”
Patricia Ferguson , Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs said:
"This is a very sad development. I can’t think of similar situation ever having occurred in Scotland.
“Scotland is a welcoming, open and tolerant country and to withdraw support for a visit from an important religious figure like this is very confusing.
"The Dalai Lama, as an important religious figure, is widely recognised as an international ambassador for peace.
“I am sure he will be as confused by this snub as everyone else in Scotland.
“It looks like the SNP administration at Dundee City Council has been nobbled by the SNP government."
