INDIA WILL TAKE RIGHT CALL ON REINCARNATION OF DALAI LAMA, SAYS TIBETAN LEADER

WASHINGTON: Expressing full faith in the Indian government, Penpa Tsering, the head of the Central Tibetan Administration, has said India will take the right position at the right time on the question of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. His comments come even as India has remained silent on the question, while the United States, through an act in the Congress, has declared it would impose punitive measures if China interferes in the question of succession.

During a visit to Washington — where he met National Security Council Indo-pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell, senior State Department officials and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — Tsering also said that China is “very very insecure” about the situation in Tibet and spoke of his dialogue with Uighur leaders and dissidents from Hong Kong, all of whom are opposed to the Chinese Communist Party’s increased domestic repression.

In an interview to HT, when asked about reincarnation, where China is expected to seek to impose its own preferences, Tsering expressed full faith in India’s position which will be key in determining the future of the Tibetan struggle and its spiritual leadership. “I trust the Indian government fully, and we have always maintained a very transparent relationship with the Indian government. I have full faith... when it’s the right time, the Indian government will take its right position. I am sure everybody realises what has gone through history and both the Indian government and the people have a lot of sympathy for the Tibetan people.” He claimed after China’s “unprovoked aggression” in Doklam and Galwan, India’s position had become stronger.