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Journalism of Courage
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Wednesday made a fresh offer to retire to enable the democratically elected Tibetan leadership to carry forward the struggle against China for greater autonomy. Dalai Lama, who earlier addressed members of the Himachal Assembly at the new Vidhan Sabha complex after the end of the winter session, was replying to questions by mediapersons on his retirement. He pointed out that since 2001, when the Tibetans elected their own political leadership, he had already been in a state of semi-retirement.
“I have been playing my part as a religious and spiritual leader, but for all other functions, S Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, is my boss. He has an important political role to play. If I continue to lead the struggle, it will become a hindrance in the process of democratic development,” the Dalai Lama said. Change was very essential, said the 73-year-old Nobel Laureate.
Asked about China’s fresh offer for talks, he said it was up to Rinpoche to respond. The ‘Prime Minister’, who was present, said: “We are firm on our stand, conveyed to China through a eight-point memorandum.”
