(a) whether the Government have received any official communication from the Government of China regarding the stay of Karmapa in India;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken thereon?
(a) whether the Government have received any official communication from the Government of China regarding the stay of Karmapa in India;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken thereon?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)
(a), (b) & (c): Lama Ugyen Thinley Dorji, recognised by his supporters as the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, arrived in Dharamsala from Tibet on January 5, 2000. The official Chinese position on Lama Ugyen Thinley Dorji`s arrival in India is that Lama Ugyen Thinley Dorji had gone abroad to `get the musical instruments` of the Buddhist rituals and the `black hat` used by previous Karmapas. The Chinese side has been requested to share with us details regarding the circumstances of his departure from Tibet for India. India and China have been in touch through diplomatic channels. The two sides have noted with satisfaction the improvement and development of bilateral relations on the basis of Panchsheel.