New Delhi: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama early Friday morning posted a tweet on farmers but deleted it an hour later. This while massive groups of farmers from Punjab and Haryana gathered on the outskirts of Delhi to protest three farm bills passed by the central government in September. It is unclear if the Dalai Lama was referring to the farmers’ protest in his tweet.
In the now deleted post, the Buddhist spiritual leader had written: “A farmer takes care of his land not out of some sentimental affection for the soil, but because his livelihood depends on it. We, likewise, have to look after the community we live in. Having a sense of universal responsibility is not only relevant, it brings satisfaction.”
Oh, this does NOT look good. HHDL tweets on farmers in the middle of one of the biggest farmer’s protests in a decade. Deletes it in less than an hour. pic.twitter.com/PzoUCJVCvS
— JK (@JaskiratSB) November 27, 2020
A few hours after the post was deleted, the Dalai Lama posted another tweet where he said that his “dedication” is to “serve the 7 billion human beings on this planet”.
He further noted, “If you can, help and serve others, but if you can’t, at least don’t harm them; then in the end you will feel no regret.”
My dedication is to serve the 7 billion human beings on this planet and the other creatures with whom we share it. If you can, help and serve others, but if you can’t at least don’t harm them; then in the end you will feel no regret.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) November 27, 2020
Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been marching towards Delhi as part of their two-day ‘Chalo Dilli’ march to protest against the farm bills.
The Delhi Police Friday used water cannons and tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds at the Delhi-Haryana border, before the Narendra Modi government finally allowed them to enter the national capital.
They will be escorted to Burari, in the outskirts of Delhi, where they can continue their protest.
Also read: Farmer protests are being politicised, but use of force not right, says RSS affiliate