Dharamshala: Appalled by the shocking remarks made by former diplomat P Stobdan on Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a recent TV interview, CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay issued a statement today condemning what he called “outrageous” remarks.
“Personally, it was shocking for me to hear what he [P Stobdan] said, particularly the mannerism and the language he used in regards to His Holiness,” said the President.
“During the 2014 Kalachakra in Ladakh, he had invited me to give a talk at his centre. I, along with then-Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Delhi Bureau, had visited the centre. At the time, he was very appreciative of His Holiness. However, his latest statement and the mannerism with which he speaks of His Holiness is outrageous and deplorable.”
Dr Sangay further asserted that those sharing the views of P Stobdan is marginal, and the majority of the people in Ladakh deeply revere His Holiness as their most beloved spiritual and moral leader.
“I deeply appreciate the overwhelming support shown by our brothers and sisters in Ladakh. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always held the people of Ladakh very close to his heart. Over the years, His Holiness has been tirelessly visiting Ladakh to give teachings to his thousands of followers in Ladakh. His Holiness has visited Ladakh around 27 times and given countless teachings, including one of the most important, the Kalachakra initiations, which His Holiness gave thrice in Ladakh. His Holiness has also celebrated many birthdays in Ladakh.”
The former diplomat’s statement over His Holiness the Dalai Lama received widespread backlash from the Ladakh community of both Buddhists and Muslims.
Major associations in Ladakh such as Ladakh Buddhist Association, All Ladakh Gompa Association, LBA Youth Wing and Women Wing, The Thiksey and Diskit monasteries, Muslim association in Leh as well as the Anjuman Jamiat-ul-Ulama Isna Ashriya Muslim association in Kargil, Likir Monastery Gaden Dhargyas Ling, the Merchant Association of Leh, Office of the Nambardar Spituk, President Kunfan Deytsogs Tsgospa Spituk and “Leh Phung Do” Nambardars and Lower Leh Nambardars (village leaders) in Leh, D.L. Pethub Khangtsen Education Society in Leh, Galdan Targaisling Cultural & Welfare Society Pethup Gonna in Leh, Dre-Lukhil Khangtsen Education Society and Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics issued statements in contempt of P Stobdan’s remarks.
Other influential leaders and people of Ladakh have also taken to social media to condemn and demand an apology from P Stobdan for his derogatory remarks on the spiritual leader. District Congress Committee on Monday issued a video statement.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the Ladakh Buddhist Association, All Ladakh Gompa Association, LBA Youth Wing and Women Wing vehemently condemned P Stobdan’s remarks, calling it a “shocking statement” from the former diplomat and demanded an apology for hurting the sentiments of people in Ladakh.
The Thiksey and Diskit monasteries in Ladakh also called him out for the condemnable language used against the spiritual leader, whom they described as “not only an epitome of peace and ambassador of humanity but also the most respected spiritual leader of hundreds of thousands of Buddhists around the world.”
The Merchant Association of Leh called a strike on Monday as a symbolic display of solidarity and protest.
President of Anjuman Jamiat-ul-Ulama Isna Ashriya Muslim association in Kargil expressed contempt for the disrespect shown towards His Holiness, criticizing it as unacceptable and highly condemnable.
Likir Monastery Gaden Dhargyas Ling also condemned P Stobdan’s remarks of being “baseless, malignant and highly derogatory”.
An influential youth leader from Leh, Sajjad Hussain Kargili, denounced the “unacceptable and deplorable” remarks, further stating the vital contributions of His Holiness in maintaining peace and harmony in Ladakh.
Disrespecting of any religious figure is not acceptable and highly condemnable .We extend our solidarity with the Buddhist community of our region in their protest of condemning disrespect of @DalaiLama Ji.
P. Stobdan should introspect their demeanour on national television.— Nazir Mehdi Mohammadi (@S_NazirMehdi) June 1, 2020
.@DalaiLama ji has played vital role in maintaining peace & harmony in #Ladakh. He is the sipritual leader of #Buddhist community. He is well respected by the Muslims in entire #Ladakh.
Use of crude language while reffering to such a personality is unacceptable.
& deplorable.— SAJJAD HUSSAIN (@Sajjad_Kargili) June 1, 2020