Dalai Lama should not retire, say Tibetans

Urging Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, to reconsider his decision to retire, Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister in-exile of Tibet has said the Dalai Lama should not take complete retirement till their cause of Tibetan autonomy is achieved.

Talking to reporters in Dharamsala, Rinpoche said the Dalai Lama cannot retire as he has to lead the Tibetan people.

"Dalai Lama cannot take complete retirement; that is unthinkable. Whatever he is talking about is semi-retirement at this moment, is from the political activities and administrative work and in future also, he will take the entire administrative work, may be given to the elected leadership and he will take retirement from that but to lead the Tibetan people, he cannot retire," he added.

Rinpoche also said that the Dalai Lama's message will be delivered to the Parliament in the forthcoming session and Parliament will take a decision.

"Present status is not clear as yet. He has said that he will send a message to the forthcoming parliament session which will be from March 14 this year and when his message comes in the Parliament, it will be clear and I think the Parliament will take a decision," said Rinpoche.