The issue of reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and the continuation of the lineage is a “religious matter” and is not a “political football” which countries like China and others can play, said Shivshankar Menon, former national security adviser and ambassador to China.

At an event in Delhi marking 75 years since the Dalai Lama assumed religious and temporal leadership of Tibet, Menon said “We, in India, are privileged to have the Dalai Lama between us. His teachings, his wisdom has made a difference to our social harmony in India.

“Over the span of 66 years we have also been able to preserve Tibetan culture due to him… The practice of Tibetan Buddhism must continue. The world is better off because of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism .”

In his view, Beijing has “barely been able to

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