India Does Not...: MEA Reacts To Dalai Lamas Succession Plan Amid Chinese Push
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen reports relating to the statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama about the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution." Jaishwal further said, "The government of India does not take any position or speak 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."
China's Reaction
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Friday reiterated China's official stance on the reincarnation process of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, emphasising that it is governed by time-honoured rituals and cannot be determined by any one individual. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the envoy said, "The reincarnation of Living Buddhas follows a fully developed set of established rituals, and has never been decided by a single individual including the 14th Dalai Lama himself."
Indian Minister's Remark
Union Minister of Minority Affairs of India Kiren Rijiju recently asserted that the choice of the Dalai Lama's successor should rest solely with the spiritual leader himself, reflecting the belief of his followers worldwide amid China's recent statement on the matter. "I am a devotee of the Dalai Lama. Anybody in the world who follows the Dalai Lama wants his successor to be chosen by the Dalai Lama himself," Rijiju said.
China vs Tibet
China has been trying to exert control over Tibetan Buddhist traditions, particularly the reincarnation process of high-ranking lamas like the Dalai Lama. Over a lifetime in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has become synonymous with Tibet and its quest for genuine autonomy under Beijing's tightening grip on the Himalayan region.
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