India to wave off 17th Karmapa’s travel restrictions

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, May 24: The Indian government is set to wave off travel restrictions imposed on the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje.

New Delhi will soon allow the Karmapa to travel any where in India barring Rumtek in Sikkim without having to seek New Delhi’s permission, reports The Indian Express.

The Indian Home Ministry has proposed to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to allow the Karmapa to travel to any part of the country, except Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, without seeking prior permission from New Delhi, the report added.

According to the report, a decision was recently made by the government agencies to review the restrictions imposed on Karmapa’s travel in an attempt to engage him.

For years since his arrival in India, the government agencies have been skeptical and allegedly suspected him to be a Chinese spy.

A central government order passed by the CCS in the year 2000 had banned the Karmapa’s travel to Rumtek monastery in Sikkim and other areas of strategic importance like Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh without permission, the report added.

However, in November last year, the government through a CCS decision also allowed him to travel to Arunachal Pradesh.

Karmapa, the head of Tibetan Buddhism’s Kagyue lineage was born in eastern Tibet. In the year 2000, the 14-year-old Karmapa fled Tibet and escaped to India.