Days after Beijing lashed out at the Dalai Lama meeting a US Congressional delegation, India reiterated its stance on His Holiness’ position, emphasising his “revered” status and the respect accorded to him by the Indian people.
“The Government of India’s position on His Holiness the Dalai Lama is clear and consistent. He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. His Holiness is accorded due courtesies and freedom to conduct his religious and spiritual activities,” the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Jaiswal’s comments, during a weekly briefing, came in response to queries regarding India’s stance on the succession of the Dalai Lama, highlighting the spiritual leader’s significant role in India’s cultural fabric.
“A seven-member US Congress delegation paid a visit to India from 16-20 June 2024. The bi-partisan delegation was led by Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee. They visited Dharamshala on 18-19 June,” the MEA spokesperson said.
He said the delegation also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and interacted with External Affairs minister S Jaishankar and Commerce & Industry minister Piyush Goyal.
“As regards the statements by the US delegation, I would refer you to the US side and it is for them to answer,” he said.
In a strongly-worded statement on Chinese President Xi Jinping, former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi —who is part of a US Congressional delegation — said on Wednesday that while the legacy of the Dalai Lama will live forever for compassion and tradition, the Chinese President will be gone and nobody will give him any credit.
Pelosi made these comments after meeting the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. The US Congressional delegation is led by US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and has members including Pelosi, who is now Speaker Emerita, and prominent US Congressional members — Mariannette Miller, Gregory Meeks, Nicole Malliotakis, Jim McGovern, and Ami Bera.
While the Dalai Lama meets foreign diplomats and visitors, this delegation is one of the most high-powered delegations from the US in recent years. Pelosi has been at the forefront of challenging Beijing, as she had visited Taiwan in August 2022.
The delegation’s visit comes after the US Congress last week passed a bill urging Beijing to re-engage with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve their dispute over the status and governance of Tibet.
