India Does Not Take Position on Faith and Religion: MEA on Dalai Lama's Successor

China Urges India to Act Cautiously on Tibet-Related Issues

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

The government of India on Friday said that it does not have a stance on issues pertaining to religious beliefs and practices, such as the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama, and reiterated its resolve to maintain freedom of religion for everyone in the nation.

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized, "We have seen reports concerning the statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama regarding the perpetuation of the Dalai Lama institution. The Government of India has no position or comment to offer on issues about beliefs and practices of faith and religion. The government has always maintained freedom of religion for everyone in India and shall continue to do so."

With the 14th Dalai Lama approaching his 90th birthday on July 6, 2025, he has issued a landmark and definitive statement which challenges Beijing's control over Tibetan religious matters directly. Asserting that he would reincarnate, the Dalai Lama emphasized that his successor is a choice that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust—a non-governmental organization in exile in India—and the traditional Tibetan Buddhist institutions have a say in.

He categorically denied any role of the Chinese government in this holy issue. In a strong statement in an effort to uphold the spiritual purity of Tibetan Buddhism, he went further and announced that the 15th Dalai Lama would be born outside China, somewhere beyond Beijing's reach.