MEA says govt. has ‘no position’ on Dalai Lama succession; Rijiju clarifies that he spoke as a ‘devotee’

In its first official statement over the Dalai Lama’s succession plan announcement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday (July 4, 2025) said that the government “does not take any position” on such religious issues.

The statement appeared to distance the government from the comments made on Thursday by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju who had openly backed the Tibetan spiritual leader’s right to decide on his own succession. On Friday, Mr. Rijiju clarified that he had spoken as a “follower and a devotee”, as he is a practicing Buddhist himself, even as the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out a strong statement, warning India about “interference” in China’s “domestic affairs”.

“We have seen reports relating to the statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama about the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, while adding: “Government of India does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion.”

The spokesperson also said that the government has “always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so”, indicating its support for the Tibetan community living in India led by the Dalai Lama to practice their faith.

The MEA statement followed by an announcement by the Dalai Lama, who turns 90 on July 6, asserting that the line of Tibetan Buddhism’s most senior pontiff would continue after him. In his announcement, the Dalai Lama told Buddhist leaders gathered for the birthday celebrations in Dharamshala that his successor, or reincarnation would be identified by the Gaden Phodrang trust set up by him in consultation with other leaders, as the “sole authority”. This is the clearest signal the Tibetan spiritual leader has given about the issue thus far and negates China’s role in appointing the next Dalai Lama. The Chinese government insists any appointment must be approved by the government in Beijing, citing a traditional “golden urn” process dating back to the Qing dynasty.

On Thursday, Mr. Rijiju, one of the ministers who will attend the Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations, had said that “nobody else has the right to decide” on the succession issue except the Dalai Lama “and the conventions in place”.

In a sharp response to the statement as reported in Reuters, the Chinese MFA in Beijing on Friday said that China hopes India “will stop using Tibet issues to interfere in domestic affairs and avoid affecting the development of ties”. The strong response is indicating the current round of engagements between Delhi and Beijing to restore ties after the standoff at the Line of Actual Control was resolved last October while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met.

Speaking to journalists again on Friday, Mr. Rijiju repeated his support for the Dalai Lama’s statement, but added that “those who believe in His Holiness the Dalai Lama, all want that he should decide matters according to his wishes”.

“The Government of India or I don’t need to comment,” he said adding that he did not wish to respond to the statement from China. “I speak as a follower (anuyayi), I am a devotee,” Mr. Rijiju said.