Karmapa should seek asylum8217;

According to sources, the Karmapa, during his meeting with the Dalai Lama yesterday, had reportedly urged him to take up the matter of political asylum with the Government of India. The Tibetan government, however, had described the hour-long meeting as a routine one8217;, saying that the Dalai Lama wanted to enquire about the progress of the religious studies of the Karmapa. TheDalai Lama, who is in retreat these days, had to come out twice to meet the Karmapa.

According to Tashi Wangdi, minister for religion and culture in the Tibetan government-in-exile: 8220;The Karmapa will have to write to the Indian Government for political asylum, and the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government will plead his case.8221;

The minister denied that the Tibetan government had sent feelers to any other country for deporting the Karmapa there, in case he was denied political asylum in India.

When asked why the Karmapa was being kept so closely guarded till now, the minister said: 8220;Given the circumstances under which he had come to India, we have to give him time. Moreover, I cannot go and tell him that enough is enough.8221; Wangdi hoped that the Union Government would take a decision in this regard on merit. He added that the Tibetans were not unduly worried as India could not be pushed into a corner and forced to take a wrong decision, as was evident from history. He, however, evaded questionsregarding the time and the route taken by the Karmapa for his escape from Tibet. 8220;I cannot comment on anything based on partial information,8221; he said.

He also questioned the authenticity of Namgyal Gompu, reported to be the maternal uncle of the 17th Karmapa, saying that he was a 8220;Tibetan residing in Germany, who has no position in Tibetan society.8221; A few days ago, Gompo had reportedly urged the Karmapa to return to Tibet and had described his escape 8220;a mistake8221;.