Karmapa must be allowed to stay: Dalai Lama

BHUBANESWAR, JAN. 28. The Tibetan spiritual head, Dalai Lama, has said that it would be ``a terrible mistake on the part of the Government of India, both in respect of country's image as well as in substance,'' if Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje, who escaped from Tibet, was not allowed to stay in the country. In a letter written to the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. Rabi Ray, the Dalai Lama, however, said he understood to some extent the cautious stand of the Government of India on this issue.

The reincarnate 17th Karmapa, 14-year-old Urgyen Trinley Dorje escaped from Tibet with his sister, Ms. Ngodup Palzam, a nun and five others and reached India on January 5.

The Dalai Lama, in his letter dated January 18, also thanked Mr. Ray for his stand on the issue of granting asylum to the Karmapa. The copy of the letter was released by Mr. Ray to the press today.

Stating that he was convinced that the Karmapa had escaped from Tibet because he did not find it possible to pursue his religious studies and practices satisfactorily there, the Dalai Lama said he had evidence that contrary to appearances, there was much restriction and suppression of religious freedom in Tibet. Meanwhile, the escape of the monk from Tibet to India had triggered off controversy among the three living regents of Sikkim's influential Rumtek Monastery with the majority supporting him.

The Tibetan leader said in his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, he had mentioned that the conduct of the Karmapa in the past clearly indicated a strong character and correct stand on issues relating to his religious practice and the welfare of the Tibetan people.

Unfortunately, there was factionalism within the Karma Kagyu sect itself which had complicated the matter, the Dalai Lama said referring to the Shamar group and the Situ group.

- PTI

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