Abbot of Tawang monastery resigns amid accusations

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, May 16: Guru Tuklu Rinpoche, the abbot of 400-yr-old Gaden Namgyal Lhatse monastery, popularly known as Tawang monastery has offered his resignation to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama following an accusation by a section of monks for trying to disrupt the anti-big dam movement.

Guru Tuklu Rinpoche, abbot of Tawang monastery. (Deccan Herald)
Guru Tuklu Rinpoche, abbot of Tawang monastery. (Deccan Herald)

A section of monks led by Lama Lobsang Gyasto accused Rinpoche of trying to derail the anti-big dam movement at the behest of hydropower developers.

Rinpoche, abbot of the monastery since 2008, has tendered his resignation to the 14th Dalai Lama, reports Deccan Herrald May 14, citing sources from the monastery.

Following the abbot’s resignation letter, monks and the residents alike are waiting for His Holiness’ decision on the matter.

“So far, we have not received any information on whether the abbot’s resignation has been accepted by the Dalai Lama,” reports TOI May 14 citing a lama of the monastery as saying.

Rinpoche was known to have soft stand against hydropower dams and had earlier spoken against Gyasto, suggests a report on Deccan Herrald May 14.

13236116_1169027303141678_706076234_nThe abbot described the current situation in the district not conducive for him to continue his service and decided to resign.

The ‘Save Mon Region Federation’ led by Gyasto has been spearheading a massive anti-big dam movement in Tawang bordering China. Two protesters including a monk Ven. Nyima Wangdue and a layman Mr. Tsering Tenpa were killed in a police firing in Tawang on May 2.

 

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