Dalai Lama’s resignation accepted by Tibetan cabinet

Gangtok: The Tibetan Cabinet on Tuesday accepted leader Dalai Lama’s decision to retire as the political head of the exiled Tibetan government. Speaking in the House, Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the exiled Tibetan government, Professor Samdhong Rinpoche said, “With a heavy heart, we have to accept His Holiness’ decision of retirement as political head of the state”.

The seven Cabinet members unanimously accepted Dalai Lama’s decision to retire as political head of the exiled Tibetan government.

However, the Tibetan Parliament is still going against the decision taken by Dalai Lama. Three Members of Parliament, including Dawa Phunkyi, Gyalrong Dawa Tsering and Karma Choephel, who spoke in the House, till the tea-break, has outrightly rejected Dalai Lama’s decision to retire.

Even after the Cabinet has accepted the decision taken by Dalai Lama, the Cabinet ministers are still feeling that the decision will not be passed or accepted by Parliament. “The Cabinet has always accepted the wishes and orders of His Holiness (Dalai Lama). This decision, wherein he has expressed his wish to retire as the political leader of the Tibetans, has also been accepted by the Cabinet; but since Members of Parliament are elected representatives of the people, it is unlikely they will accept this decision. People are not ready to accept Dalai Lama’s decision to retire,” Rinpoche said.

“If the Dalai Lama has wished the time has come, when such a change is required, we all need to think of the best possible ways to implement such a change,” he said.

(FROM SIKKIM REPORTER / EDITED BY ASHOK CHATTERJEE)