‘India Does Not Take Any Position on Faith and Religion’: MEA Says India Stays Neutral on Dalai Lama Succession Row

[By Our Correspondent]

New Delhi: India maintains a neutral stance on matters of faith and religion, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified on Friday, addressing questions about the Dalai Lama’s recent statement on his reincarnation. This comes just days before the Tibetan spiritual leader’s 90th birthday on July 6.

The MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was responding to media queries regarding the Dalai Lama’s statement ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6. In a statement on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama said the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation. “I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” he said.

The statement follows the Dalai Lama’s Wednesday announcement, where he declared that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, established by him in 2015 to manage matters related to the Dalai Lama institution, holds sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation. “No one else has any authority to interfere in this process,” the Dalai Lama stated, according to reports.

China responded sharply, insisting that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and other prominent Buddhist figures, like the Panchen Lama, must follow its regulations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that such reincarnations require approval from the central government and must involve drawing lots from a golden urn. “China upholds freedom of religious belief but has clear regulations on managing the reincarnation of Tibetan living Buddhas,” Mao added.

India’s position underscores its policy of non-interference in religious matters, even as tensions persist over the Dalai Lama’s succession.

(With PTI Inputs)