Chamling committed to taking up Karmapa issue with Centre

SNS, Gangtok, 27 November 2013: After a spell of studied silence, the chief minister, Mr Pawan Chamling has reiterated his commitment to pursue the Karmapa issue with the Centre.
Days after Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) had claimed success in convincing the Centre of the imperative of allowing the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorjee to visit Sikkim, Mr Chamling said he has been working tirelessly to meet the long-pending demand of the people.
The Centre placed a ban on Ogyen Trinley Dorje's travel to Rumtek. He has been living at Gyuto monastery at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh since his escape to India on 5 January 2000. He is the head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism headquartered at Rumtek monastery.
Since the death of the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa in 1981, the Rumtek monastery has been without a head because of multiple claimants to the top seat. Organisations like the Karmapa Reception Committee (KRC) and Joint Action Committee (JAC) have made several representations to the Centre to allow his entry in Sikkim.
“Our government has taken a sincere stance to bring home our 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee. We have been working tirelessly to fulfil the demand by communicating with the Centre,” posted the chief minister in his Facebook page.
Mr Chamling who had met Dukung Gyaltsen Rinpoche, the Sanga MLA and members of Joint Action Committee and Karmapa Reception Committee yesterday, assured them that a delegation comprising members of all political bodies along with the representatives of the Lamas would visit Delhi.
They would collectively seek an appointment with the Prime Minister, he said. "Karmapa is our Living Buddha and Sikkim is his home,” he said.
On 24 November, the SPCC claimed that the Congress-led Centre has green-lighted the proposed visit of Karmapa to Sikkim in January next.
Claiming credit on the matter, the SPCC said Mr Chamling having failed to achieve anything has raised doubt over the state government’s sincerity to bring matters to the logical conclusion.
The decision had followed the Congress’ review meeting chaired by its vice president, Mr Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on 5 November, the SPCC statement maintained.