Thaindian News

Dharamsala, March 19 (IANS) With clear-cut consensus among the members of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile emerging, the lawmakers Saturday urged the Dalai Lama not to shed his political authority and reconsider his retirement plans.

But the 75-year-old Nobel laureate once again reiterated his firmness on the decision and no intention of backing out.

“His Holiness said in his address during teaching that he has no intention of backing down. He is the only person to decide and any decision will only be his,” Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama’s office, told IANS.

Speaker Penpa Tsering said a resolution passed by parliament Friday was submitted to the Dalai Lama for his re-consideration. “We sent the resolution passed by 37 members to the Dalai Lama’s office Saturday,” he added.

“During the ongoing debate in the parliament, the proposal of His Holiness was discussed in detail. Only one member (Tenzin Chonden) favoured the proposal. Rest of them beseeched that His Holiness should continue to lead the Tibetan people to the path of democracy - both as spiritual and political leader,” he said.

During the extensive deliberations in the parliament, Chonden insisted on acceding to the Dalai Lama’s appeal and act as per his wishes. The 43-member house is being attended by 38, including the speaker and the deputy speaker.

Tsering, however, said the Dalai Lama might send the resolution back to parliament and direct “us to act upon it. If that happens, it will again come up in parliament”.

The cabinet has already acceded to the Dalai Lama’s decision to retire.

As the budget session began March 14, the Nobel laureate’s message was read out by Tsering. “My intention to devolve political authority derives neither from a wish to shirk responsibility nor because I am disheartened,” said the message.

On the second day of the parliament session, prime minister-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche informed the house: “With a heavy heart, we have to accept His Holiness’ decision of retirement as political head of the state.”

The seven cabinet members also unanimously accepted Dalai Lama’s decision March 15.

The spiritual leader requested the parliamentarians March 10 to make suitable amendments to the exiled government’s constitution, paving the way for him to step down.

Nearly six million Tibetans live in Tibet while over 150,000 live in other countries, most of them in India.