Dharamshala (HP), July 04, 2025 (ANI): Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, on July 04 strongly criticized China's interference in Tibetan religious matters, particularly regarding the selection of the Dalai Lama's successor. He expressed concern over China's attempts to dictate the spiritual leadership of Tibet, questioning the government's motives and disregard for religious freedom amid preparations for the upcoming birthday celebrations of the Dalai Lama. “That’s for Chinese government to decide whether the government that doesn’t believe in any religion wants to interfere in the religions freedom of the Tibetan people, not just occupied our country but also forced lot of things on us including religious freedom to choose our own spiritual leader. It is very unfortunate and Chinese government always keeps on saying something why you are saying that we broke from tradition. What tradition Chinese government is talking about ‘golden urn’? It was only introduced only in 1793 in late 18th century. There have been 8 Dalai Lamas before that. Are those Dalai Lamas not Dalai Lama because there was no golden urn and the golden urn was hardly used in 9th and 11th Dalai Lama and even those cases were done much after the candidates selected already through traditional means,” said Penpa Tsering.
