India vehemently denied China's assertion on Thursday that Beijing must authorise the Dalai Lama's reincarnation, asserting that the Tibetan spiritual leader alone is able to select his successor.
Speaking from Dharamshala, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju stressed that the succession of the Dalai Lama is purely a religious matter and should not be influenced by politics. For all of his followers worldwide, not just Tibetans, the Dalai Lama's position is crucial. The Dalai Lama alone has the authority to choose his successor, according to Rijiju. Rijiju and Lallan Singh, the leader of the Janata Dal (United), are in Dharamshala on behalf of the Indian government at celebrations of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday. Rijiju emphasised the celebrations' spiritual significance by restating, "This is purely a religious occasion."
The statement was made one day after the exiled Tibetan leader's office strongly clarified the situation. It reaffirmed that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Dalai Lama's official office, will be the only body to choose the 15th Dalai Lama, upholding the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama. The office said in a statement on Wednesday that "the 24 September 2011 statement, which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, has clearly established the process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognised."
China, however, strengthened its stance. Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated in Beijing that the reincarnation procedure must adhere to Chinese law. In line with Beijing's long-standing demand that the selection take place within its borders and under its supervision, she said, "The Dalai Lama's succession must comply with Chinese laws and regulations as well as religious rituals and historical conventions."
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A prolonged battle for Tibetan self-government
After a failed uprising against Chinese rule, the Dalai Lama fled Lhasa and has been living in exile in India since 1959. Beijing has continuously charged him with separatist intent since then, claiming he wants to break Tibet away from China. Nonetheless, the Dalai Lama is widely acknowledged as a representation of non-violence, peace, and the Tibetan people's continuous fight to maintain their distinct religious and cultural identity.
Many exiled Tibetans worry that China may one day appoint its own Dalai Lama, which would be viewed as a political ploy to justify its rule over Tibet. Critics and observers caution that doing so would strengthen Beijing's hold on the area and call into question the legitimacy of the religious succession. An elected Tibetan government-in-exile, which represents about 130,000 Tibetans worldwide, officially took over the Dalai Lama's political duties in 2011. He had warned at the time that the Dalai Lama's spiritual lineage was at "obvious risk" of being used for political ends by manipulating the customary reincarnation process.
The renewed discussion surrounding the spiritual leader's succession as he approaches 90 years old underscores the wider tensions between China and India as well as the worldwide concern over the protection of Tibetan identity and religious freedom.
Also Read: Dalai Lama’s successor: Why the world is watching
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