Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, April 1: 46 Indian Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum have signed a joint declaration affirming their support for the Dalai Lama’s right to determine his successor without interference from China. The declaration, released on Monday, emphasises that the selection of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including the next Dalai Lama, should follow established religious practices and systems.
The declaration highlights Beijing’s attempts to control the reincarnation process as a serious obstacle to Tibetans’ freedom of religion, a right protected under Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. It references findings from multiple UN human rights bodies that have expressed concerns about China’s infringement on the religious and cultural rights of Tibetans.
“The institution of the Dalai Lama commands legitimacy and spiritual authority across the Tibetan Buddhist world, encompassing the Indian and Nepalese Himalayas, Central Asia, and Mongolia,” states the declaration.
The MPs’ Declaration comes shortly after the 14th Dalai Lama declared in March that, “Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama – that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people – will continue.”
Several signatories offered individual statements reinforcing their positions. Raju Bista, MP from West Bengal, emphasised the Dalai Lama’s contributions to religious harmony and global peace, stating that the right to determine the next Dalai Lama “rests solely with His Holiness and those he designates.” MP Dr Sasmit Patra from Odisha noted that “no external forces have the right to interfere in this sacred process of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners.”
MP Sujeet Kumar from Odisha pointed out the contradiction in China’s position, calling it “ironic” that “Communist China is an atheist country, and they want to control this process of reincarnation so that they can continue with their draconian repression of the Tibetan people.”
This declaration follows a major advocacy initiative by the Tibet Advocacy Alliance-India, a national coalition of prominent Tibetan NGOs, including the Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, National Democratic Party of Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet-India, and the International Tibet Network.
Throughout the week-long advocacy campaign, Tibetan rights activists engaged extensively with Indian lawmakers, emphasising the urgency of protecting Tibet’s cultural and religious heritage. Discussions also focused on mobilising strong parliamentary support for the Dalai Lama’s spiritual leadership and highlighting the deteriorating political and social conditions in Tibet.
The alliance welcomed the declaration. Dr Lobsang Yangtso, a representative of the alliance, expressed appreciation for the “enthusiastic and concrete support” from Indian MPs, describing it as a “clear message of support and solidarity to the Tibetan people”.
The alliance expressed confidence that this demonstration of support from across India’s political spectrum will strengthen resistance against China’s efforts to sinicise Tibet’s religious and cultural heritage. The declaration represents a unified stance from Indian parliamentarians, sending what they describe as “a resounding message to China” that they “stand with our Tibetan brothers and sisters in support of their right to religious and cultural freedoms.”
