Tibetan parliament-in-exile opposes Dalai's decision to retire

Dharamsala, Mar 15 (PTI) The Dalai Lama's move to give
up political authority was on Tuesday overwhelmingly opposed
inTibetan parliament-in-exile with members asking him to
continue, a day after the spiritual leader formally conveyed
his decision to the body.
Initiating the debate in an emotionally surcharged
atmosphere, members urged the 75-year-old Nobel laureate to
reconsider his decision and put it on hold in the larger
interest of Tibetan community.
The Dalai Lama had on Monday made a formal request to
the Tibetan body to relieve him, four days after he publicly
announced his retirement to pave the way for a democratically
elected political leader. He, however, maintained that he will
continue as the Tibetan spiritual leader.
During the proceedings on Tuesday, almost all the 43
members, who spoke on the issue, favoured his continuation as
spiritual and political leader of the community, Tibetan prime
minister-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche said.
The move of the Dalai Lama to retire from political
leadership could now hit a roadblock, as amendment to their
constitution was mandatory for paving the way for a directly
elected leadership, for which a majority support was required.
"It is very likely that parliament will not accept his
suggestion to step down," Rinpoche said.
While one of the members Ugen Topgyal said that the
opinion of the Dalai Lama was not in conformity with that of
the community, some other members suggested a referendum among
exiled Tibetans numbering about two lakhs on the issue.
Some of the speakers suggested that the Dalai Lama
should continue for the time being and more powers be devolved
to their parliament.
Rinpoche told lawmakers at the start of the session
that their parliament "stands with the change the Dalai Lama
is proposing, with a heavy heart."
In his letter to the body, the Dalai Lama had urged
the members to accept his request to step down and cautioned
against a situation when his leadership may suddenly be
unavailable.
However, he assured the community that he would
continue to serve them so long as he was "able and healthy".
It is not the first time the Dalai Lama has requested
to be relieved of responsibility of political leadership but
Tibetan parliament has outrightly rejected all such requests
in the past.
The matter may be taken up again after the budget is
presented on Wednesday, but the Dalai Lama appears to be firm
on his decision to quit, sources close to Tibetan leadership
said.
The exiled-Tibetans have set up base in Dharamsala
since 1959 when the Dalai Lama fled his homeland after a
failed uprising against Chinese rule.