Tibetan MPs ask Dalai to rethink retirement

DHARAMSALA: The Dalai Lama may be ready to take a giant step for democracy, but the Tibetan parliament-inexile is yet to endorse the Tibetan leader's decision to relinquish his political role. While the Tibetan cabinet (Kashag) gave its acceptance to the Dalai Lama's decision to retire from political engagements late on Tuesday, a number or ministers said the 75-year-old leader's proposal will not be accepted by parliament.

"Although the Dalai Lama's decision to retire as the political head was accepted by the Kashag, members of exiled parliament are unlikely to accept his decision," said the de facto prime minister of Tibet, Samdhong Rinpoche. Experts on Tibet contend that if the Dalai Lama gives up his political role, it would undermine the legitimacy of the exiled Tibetan government in Dharamsala and could even impact the Tibetan struggle.

The parliament's recalcitrance was expected as the MPs could not put a stamp of approval on the decision to end the centuries-old institution without asking the Dalai Lama to give it a second thought. Dalai Lamas have been Tibet's temporal and spiritual head since the middle of the 17th century. During the parliamentary debate on Tuesday, majority of MPs in the 43-member house said they did not favour any constitutional amendment to endorse the the Dalai Lama's proposal.

Ugen Topgyal, a Tibetan MP, told TOI that majority of Tibetans were opposed to the Dalai Lama's decision. Now, according to sources, there are chances that a referendum could be held among the 200,000 Tibetan exiles on the issue of Dalai Lama's retirement. Howver, some MPs hinted at a compromise formula in which the Dalai Lama continues to be political leader and parliament gets more responsibilities. The vote on the issue could be held later this week ahead of the polls to elect a new Kalon Tripa (prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile).

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