India Maintains Neutral Stand On Dalai Lama’s Succession: MEA
New Delhi:
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday clarified that India does not take any position on issues related to matters of faith or religion, including the succession of the Dalai Lama.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on whether the government has “openly backed” the Dalai Lama’s right to choose his own successor, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the government has noted the Tibetan spiritual leader’s July 2 statement on the institution of the Dalai Lama but maintains a neutral stance.
“Government of India does not take any position on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. The government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so,” Singh said, adding that this position has also been communicated to China.
The clarification comes amid China’s repeated assertions that the next Dalai Lama must be chosen within its borders. Countering this, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) president Penpa Tsering had earlier said that Beijing should “first search for the reincarnations of its own leaders” before claiming authority over the spiritual succession.
“The Chinese government says they will look for the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation within China. But His Holiness will decide where he is reborn. How can a government dictate to a lama or spiritual being where to be reborn?” Tsering had said ahead of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday celebrations.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
