PM, DPM at odds in Rinpoche cremation row KATHMANDU, July 25: The cabinet meeting on Friday could not take any decision on whether or not to allow the cremation in Kathmandu of the Guru Shamar Rinpoche as demanded by his followers, although Prime Minister Sushil Koirala himself was positive toward the demand. The cabinet meeting couldn’t take any decision as Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam strongly opposed the idea of allowing the final rites of the Rinpoche to be held in the country. A minister informed that the prime minister and almost all the other ministers were positive toward giving permission for the cremation, but Gautam vehemently opposed, arguing that such a decision would be against the Nepal government’s earlier response to the Bhutan government over the issue. According to multiple sources privy to the development, the government had earlier sent a written reply to Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, saying that Nepal can’t give permission for the cremation of a foreign national as such a move would set a precedent. The sources said the Bhutanese prime minister had previously requested the Nepal government to give permission “as the Rinpoche had wished to be cremated near Swayambhu in Kathmadu”. The cabinet meeting was unable to take a decision without Gautam’s consent as the home minister is the one who should be floating the proposal at the cabinet meeting. “Among other ministers, Prime Minister Koirala was for allowing the cremation but the deputy prime minister’s strong objection stopped it,” said the minister. Deputy Prime Minister Gautam has been rejecting the idea as per the security agencies’ estimate that tens of thousands of the Shamarpa’s followers would turn up at the funeral and some Free Tibet activists could take advantage of the situation to stage anti-China protests. Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal, who is also spokesperson of the government, declined to comment. The guru wanted his last rites to be performed in Kathmandu as he had a special connection with Nepal, the country where the Buddha was born, said Lama Dawa Sangbo Yolmopa, a member of the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities, which has lobbied to bring the body to Kathmandu for last rites. “We are aware that the government is positive to our request though we are yet to learn about its decision regarding the permission for holding the final rites here,” Lama Dawa added. Meanwhile, a highly-placed government source has informed that there is no Chinese pressure for not allowing the final rites to take place here. “There is no Chinese pressure for not granting permission for the final rites of the guru in Kathmandu. All that was just rumor spread by a section of the domestic and Western media,” a top official said, adding, “However, as one of its immediate neighbors, Nepal never allows anti-China activities here.” Initially, the government had denied permission for transporting the Rinpoche’s body to Kathmandu for the last rites. Those seeking a ‘No Objection Letter’ from the Consular Section of the Foreign Ministry claimed that the Shamarpa had hailed from Ichangu Narayan in Kathmandu. But when the government came to know that he possessed a Bhutanese diplomatic passport the decision to give permission was immediately revoked. The Rinpoche, 62, died of a heart attack in Germany on June 11. The original schedule for bringing the body to Nepal from New Delhi changed last week after the government denied permission for holding the last rites here. Subsequently, the body was taken to Kalimpong in India. Published on 2014-07-26 07:05:55 myrepublica/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=79714 Published on 2014-07-26 07:05:55
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 10:38:53 +0000
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