The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India commits a diplomatic blunder over the issue of Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee according to the special report in the Sunday Guardian Live by Vijay Kranti, a senior journalist and Chairman, Centre for Himalayan Asia Studies & Engagement (CHASE).
In the recent news reports, MEA was report to have revealed that it does not recognise Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the sole 17th Karmapa. In addition to that, it is also reportedly upset at the most influential Tibetan lama after the Dalai Lama in exile securing a foreign passport without prior notice to the government of India!
Vijay Kranti argues that the MEA’s portrayal of Karmapa as a a “law-breaker”, a “fugitive”, a “liar” and one who was “arrogant” is a huge blunder committed by MEA babus at a very sensitive time which could not only be disastrous for the Tibetan movement, but will also make the entire Indian Himalayan belt more vulnerable to Chinese games.
“While Karmapa is considered to be second only to the Dalai Lama in the religious hierarchy of Tibet and Mahayana Buddhism, his position is unique in the context of Bhutan because he happens to be the spiritual patron of Bhutan, especially that of the Bhutanese royal family. One wonders how the people and the government of Bhutan are going to interpret this development, as the timing and tone of the briefing was chosen by none other than the MEA babus. Besides Bhutan, the Karmapa also holds great influence along the entire 4,000 km long Himalayan border belt of India, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, especially in Sikkim.” said the writer in the report.
Karmapa travelled abroad on Indian Identity-Certificate (IC), issued to Tibetan refugees as a travel document and has since then been in the United States on an extended stay. While the Karmapa acquired a passport of the Commonwealth of Dominica in March this year, MEA is reported to have declared his IC invalid.
“Adding insult to the injury, the MEA official has been reported to have said that the Karmapa will have to apply for Indian visa on his new Dominican passport. Though the MEA has said that the concerned officers have been instructed to issue the visa, but they will decide about the duration only in due course.” added the report.