"Bring His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa to Sikkim "rally on Sept. 26 in Gangtok

Gangtok, Sept. 17: Thousands of supporters of Orygen Trinley Dorjee will congregate here on September 26, demanding that the Centre allow him to take over his throne as the 17th Karmapa at Rumtek monastery.

Dorjee has the backing of the Dalai Lama who endorses him as the 17th Karmapa of the Dharma Chakra Centre.

“It has been 10 years since the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa had come to India from Tibet, but still he is not allowed to enter Sikkim even though he was allowed to visit Bokar monastery in Mirik, which is very close to Sikkim. We want to know from the Centre whether we are part of India. If we are a part of India, he should be allowed to come and sit on his throne,” said K.N. Topden, a spokesperson for the Karmapa Reception Committee.

He said a number of memorandums had been sent to the Union home ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office with the request to bring back the Karmapa, but no response had come. “We do not know the reason for the Centre’s stand.”

A pamphlet issued by the committee to the people asking them to join the rally read: “The government of India must repose trust and confidence in the people of Sikkim. It has been 10 years since the Karmapa fled Tibet and took refuge in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. We have waited long enough.”

According to Topden, representatives of all 65 monasteries registered with the state government, monks and preachers from all faiths will join the congregation that could swell to over 50,000.

“The rally will be silent and the people will carry placards. We want to send a message to the Centre that the demand is not from a handful of people writing memorandums but the entire population of Sikkim, whose patience is running out,” said Topden.

On the controversy over who is the rightful claimant to the throne of the Kagyug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Topden said the chapter was closed. “The Dalai Lama has endorsed Dorjee as the head of the sect.”

On September 26, the rally will begin at 10.30am from the Guards Ground here and proceed to Mintokgang (the chief minister’s official residence) where a memorandum will be submitted to Pawan Chamling. “The Sikkim government has been very supportive to our cause, the chief minister has also written to the Centre on this issue,” Topden said.