'An enduring symbol of love': PM Modi wishes the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday

Modi said that the Dalai Lama has been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience, and moral discipline. His message has inspired respect and admiration across all faiths.

In a message on X, the Prime Minister said, "I join 1.4 billion Indians in extending our warmest wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday. He has been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline. His message has inspired respect and admiration across all faiths. We pray for his continued good health and long life. @DalaiLama."

Amid a row over Dalai Lama's successor selection, an Indian minister on Thursday said the Tibetan spiritual leader can only decide on the same.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, as quoted by India Today, "The position of the Dalai Lama is of utmost importance, not just for Tibetans but for all his followers across the world. The right to decide on his successor rests solely with the Dalai Lama himself."

After the Parliamentary Affairs Minister's remark, China had issued a warning to India, asking New Delhi not to meddle with Beijing's internal matters.

China's Foreign Ministry had said it hopes India will skip using the Tibet issue to meddle into Beijing's internal affairs and avoid affecting the bilateral ties, Deccan Herald reported on Friday.

This comes days after the Dalai Lama clarified that his institution will continue and his successor will be recognised solely by members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust.

Amid a debate on who will succeed him- he is the current 14th Dalai Lama-, and how the process will be carried out—especially given the geopolitical tensions between the Tibetan exile community and China, the spiritual leader said he took the decision based on the requests he received from various sections to continue with his institution.

Meanwhile, China insisted that it must approve the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama, invoking its 1959 “Golden Urn” system and historical precedents.

It has declared that any Dalai Lama chosen without its approval will be considered illegitimate.

This sets the stage for a possible two-Dalai Lama scenario—one selected by Beijing inside Tibet, and another chosen by the exile community.

In his statement, the Dalai Lama said the process to recognise his successor will be according to his September 24, 2011, statement that mandates the members of the Trust to consult "Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas".