Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday attended the 90th birthday celebrations of the 14th Dalai Lama at Tsuglagkhang, the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala where the spiritual leader resides.
Celebrations ahead of the 90th birthday of Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, are underway in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. According to the Gregorian calendar, the Dalai Lama's birthday is officially observed on July 6.
"Days before, I heard that some RSS person said that we should remove Secular and Socialist words from the Constitution. I challenge them - be it him, their BJP, PM Modi, or Amit Shah - no one can remove those words. This is my challenge to them. Can you dare to remove it? This is all talk,"
The Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian government does not comment on religious beliefs or practices, in response to the Dalai Lama's statement on his institution's continuation. It added that India has always upheld religious freedom and will continue to do so.
Ajmer Dargah Spiritual Head Hazrat Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin said the Dalai Lama has the full right to choose his successor and urged political powers, including China, not to interfere. He praised the Dalai Lama's message of peace and called for support to protect Tibetan spiritual tradition
Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said on X that the reincarnation of Tibetan spiritual leaders follows strict, centuries-old rituals and cannot be decided by one person, including the Dalai Lama. He listed traditional methods like divination and the Golden Urn, all requiring approval from Ch
"I am a devotee of the Dalai Lama. Anybody in the world who follows the Dalai Lama wants his successor to be chosen by the Dalai Lama himself," Rijiju said.
He expressed concern over China's attempts to dictate the spiritual leadership of Tibet, questioning the government's motives and disregard for religious freedom amid preparations for the upcoming birthday celebrations of the Dalai Lama.
Former cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton lampooned England's top order for an early collapse courtesy of Indian quicks Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj's scorching spells in the final session on Day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston on Thursday.
The International Tibet Youth Forum commenced in Dharamshala on Thursday. The inaugural session was attended by Hollywood star Richard Gere, who addressed the audience on the occasion.
This comes after Dalai Lama declared that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit institution he established, has the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation.