&w=3840&q=100)
Dalai Lama dismisses succession buzz, vows to serve for 30-40 more years at 90
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees as he arrives at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharmsala, India, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Photo: AP)
The Dalai Lama has quashed the rumours about his succession, vowing to serve people for another three to four decades. While speaking during a long-life prayer ceremony at Tsuglagkhang, the main Dalai Lama temple in McLeodganj, the Dalai Lama said Saturday (July 5) he felt reassured by divine signs.
'Looking at the many prophecies, I feel I have blessings of the Avalokiteshvara. I have done my best so far. I hope to still live for 30-40 years more. Your prayers have borne fruit so far,' the spiritual leader told the crowd on the eve of his 90th birthday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Amid swirling speculation about the future of Tibetan spiritual leadership and China's potential role in choosing his successor, the Dalai Lama remains steadfast.
Showing no signs of stepping back, he expressed deep gratitude for his life's journey, despite the challenges of leading Tibetans in exile.
'Though we have lost our country and we are living in exile in India, that's where I have been able to benefit beings quite a lot. Those living here in Dharamshala. I intend to benefit and serve beings as much as I can,' he said.
As McLeodganj gears up for his 90th birthday celebrations, with dignitaries like Indian union minister Kiren Rijiju expected to attend, the Dalai Lama's message highlighted his unwavering commitment to his spiritual mission and his determination to continue guiding his followers for years to come.
Earlier on Wednesday, the 14th Dalai Lama stated that the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama would continue and that the Gaden Phodrang Trust– a non-profit body set up by his office in 2011– would have the 'sole authority' to recognise his reincarnation.
China responded swiftly and critically. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning reiterated Beijing's long-standing position that any reincarnation of the Tibetan spiritual leader must comply with what it calls 'domestic recognition' and receive official approval.
Despite China's criticism, India has backed the traditional process for selecting the next Dalai Lama.
'Reincarnation has to be decided by the established conventions and the desire of the present Dalai Lama. No one else has the right to decide on the next Dalai Lama. It is the most important defining institution for all the Tibetans and all those who follow the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism,' Rijiju said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
10 minutes ago
- NDTV
Arms Dealer Sanjay Bhandari Declared Fugitive Economic Offender By Delhi Court
New Delhi: A Delhi special court on Saturday declared UK-based arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari a Fugitive Economic Offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, in connection with an income tax case involving undisclosed foreign assets. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal following a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which alleged that Bhandari had deliberately evaded Indian legal proceedings and possessed foreign assets exceeding Rs 100 crore. The agency emphasised that the UK court's refusal to extradite Bhandari had no bearing on the current proceedings, which are independent and governed by Indian law. Sanjay Bhandari, however, contested the ED's plea, arguing that his residence in the UK is lawful and backed by a ruling from the London High Court, which denied his extradition, citing concerns over his safety in Tihar jail. His counsel, senior advocate Maninder Singh, claimed the ED's application was vague, lacked jurisdiction, and failed to meet the legal threshold under the FEO Act. Singh further argued that the monetary value of the alleged offence did not exceed Rs 100 crore, referencing a 2020 submission by the Income Tax Department. He also pointed out that Bhandari had been discharged by the UK High Court, and no fresh warrants were pending against him. Special Public Prosecutor Zoheb Hossain appeared for the Enforcement Directorate in the matter. The UK High Court had earlier blocked Bhandari's extradition on human rights grounds, citing risks of extortion and violence in Indian custody. The Indian government's subsequent attempt to challenge the decision in Britain's Supreme Court was also rejected.
Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari declared a fugitive economic offender
Accepting an application moved by the Enforcement Directorate, a Delhi Court on Saturday declared UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari a fugitive economic offender. With this, the Central agency can confiscate the assets of Bhandari worth crores of rupees. This order comes as a shot in the arm for the ED after a UK court had recently ruled against Bhandari's extradition to India. '…the ED has been able to make out a case under Sections 2(f) and 2(m) of the FEO (Fugitive Economic Offenders) Act…this Court is satisfied that the individual Sh. Sanjay Bhandari, against whom an warrant of arrest i.e. NBW (non bailable warrant) has been issued…has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution…despite knowing the pendency of the NBWs against him,' said Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal in the order. After the Income Tax department raided him in 2016, Bhandari, now 63, fled to London. A year later, the ED filed a criminal case against him under the anti-black money law of 2015. The agency is also probing Bhandari's links with businessman Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 'Further, this court is satisfied that the total value of the schedule offence is `100 crore or more…,' the court said. The principal allegation against Bhandari was that he owned certain assets worth Rs 100 crores abroad which he did not disclose to the I-T authorities. The ED had argued that Bhandari consistently chose not to return to India. The ED also submitted that the UK court's decision to disallow Bhandari's extradition would not be binding on the proceedings in the Delhi court. Bhandari's legal team, while opposing the ED's move to get him declared a fugitive offender, claimed that its 'client's stay could not be called illegal in the UK as he has a legal right to reside in the UK and the GOI is bound by the judgment of the UK court…. Bhandari is legally living there, and declaring him a 'fugitive' in that scenario is legally wrong'. The court said the 'extradition attempt may have failed, but it will not make the accused an angel or immune to prosecution for the violation of Indian laws'. Bhandari had alleged that he was subjected to undue harassment and pressure from various enforcement agencies to 'compel him to give false statements against the political opponents of the government' and that it was because of this harassment that he was forced to leave India. 'In any case, those who play with fire should be known to be aware of its consequences,' it said. The court held that the undisclosed foreign income or assets of Bhandari were worth Rs 655 crore and the total tax evaded by him, including penalty and interest, was Rs 196 crore. The ED filed its first chargesheet against him in 2020. The ED filed a supplementary chargesheet in the case in 2023, alleging that Bhandari 'acquired' the 12, Bryanston Square house located in London in 2009 and got it renovated 'as per the directions of Robert Vadra and the funds for renovation were provided by Robert Vadra'. Vadra has denied owning any London property directly or indirectly. He has termed these charges a political witch-hunt against him and claimed that he is being 'hounded and harassed' to subserve political ends. With this order, a total of 16 people, including liquor baron Vijay Mallya and diamond trader Nirav Modi, have been declared fugitive economic offenders by different courts. Bhandari's assets worth about Rs 21 crore have been attached by the ED under the PMLA.
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Reorganising States into smaller units key to fair delimitation, says expert
Only a complete reorganisation of Indian States into 75 smaller States for administrative convenience would ensure that each vote has the same value and each State has the same heft, said Gautam R. Desiraju, Professor Emeritus, Indian Institute ofScience, in Chennai on Saturday. Speaking at a discussion on his book Delimitation and States Reorganization: For a Better Democracy in Bharat, moderated by former Census Commissioner C. Chandramouli, Mr. Desiraju said the current Lok Sabha strength of 545 was inadequate, and the number should be close to 1,500 for better representation. He highlighted the disparity in the value of votes across constituencies, citing a comparison between the Chennai Central and Bangalore North Lok Sabha seats as an example of imbalance. According to him, a nation state is a European concept, where the behaviour of the people flows from the Constitution, whereas a civilisational state is one in which the Constitution arises from the people. He said that during pre-Independence period, the boundaries of various presidencies were drawn solely to serve colonial economic interests. Later, Bengali was made mandatory to enter government services, which led to linguistic divisions in the Bengal Presidency. Referring to a pamphlet authored by B.R. Ambedkar in the 1950s, Mr. Desiraju said Ambedkar had opposed the linguistic reorganisation of States. He argued that the creation of smaller States was the only way to ensure parity in representation and better administration.
