By Kalsang Rinchen
Dharamsala, Feb 4 – Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal yesterday appealed devotees and followers of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa not to carry out solidarity processions for the Buddhist leader saying it might cause law and order situation in his state.
“I have asked them to stop marches and wait for the outcome of the investigations,” media reports quoted Dhumal as saying.
Tibetan parliament-in-exile’s Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari and Karmapa’s spokesperson Karma Topden met the chief minister to clarify their stand on the Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje – the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu School, one of the four sects of Buddhism.
“I have asked them to abide by law and told them such marches might create law and order problem in the state. Why are such marches being taken out when the central and state government agencies are doing their job,” Dhumal said. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has also asked for an in-depth investigation, Dhumal added.
Thousands of devotees on Wednesday took out a peaceful procession from Tsuglakhang courtyard to Karmapa’s temporary residence at Gyuto monastery near Siddhbari here to express their solidarity with the young head of Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The Indian investigating agencies are probing the recovery of huge amount of allegedly unaccounted foreign currencies including 70,0000 Chinese Yuan.
Ogyen Trinley Dorjee or better known as the Karmapa appeared on Wednesday for the first time before the public since reports of recovery of allegedly unaccounted cash from his monk accountant’s quarter. “Everything will be alright, and things will clear out soon. I am overwhelmed by your support at this time for me, so thank you very much,” said the Karmapa in his brief address to his followers who had come from various places including Delhi and Manali.
Five people, including the Karmapa’s aide Rabgay Chosang, alias Shakti Lama, were remanded in police custody.
Supporters and devotees say that they are deeply disturbed by the “unfounded” allegations against their religious leader by sections of Indian media linking him with China. “We know that the Karmapa is not a Chinese spy, and I want to tell the government and people of India that the Tibetans have always remained and will remain ever grateful to India and its people. Karmapa is a very important religious figure in Buddhsim, and not a Chinese spy and he had cut off all ties with China the moment he escaped to India in January 2000,” said Tibetan writer and independence activist Tenzin Tsundue.
Amid media reports saying Karmapa has been put under house arrest, Indian investigating agencies denied the reports saying, “We have full respect for the spiritual head. He is free to meet the devotees and perform religious duties. There is no restriction on his movements within permissible limits.”
The Karmapa fled Tibet with his nun sister and arrived in India on January 5, 2000. He sought the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and has been since living at Gyuto monastery near here.
