"He's Playful, Pure": Tibetan Leader Defends Dalai Lama Amid Row

A top Tibetan leader has defended the Dalai Lama after outrage over a video showing the spiritual leader kissing a child on his lips and asking him to "suck my tongue".

The Dalai Lama, revered by Tibetans as a "living god", had apologised to the minor boy and his family after a row erupted. His team had said the 87-year-old spiritual leader "often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way."

Lobsang Sangay, the first president of the Central Tibetan Administration (or the Tibetan government-in-exile), on Wednesday said the Dalai Lama is a "playful" person, but acknowledged his actions were seen as "politically incorrect" from non-Tibetan perspectives.

He also questioned the timing of the outrage, stating the incident occurred on February 28. "Why is it going viral now - after five weeks?"

"People should understand, if you've watched the video with the boy, Tibetans will say that boy is so lucky he got a hug from his Holiness, and also got a kiss. But from western and other perspectives, I understand it was politically incorrect," said Mr Sangay.

He referred to the apology issued by the spiritual leader's office and said, "that's the end of the story. People should move forward".

He also said the Dalai Lama plays with people even at formal meetings and shared multiple such instances. On his visit to the White House, he told the then President Barack Obama he had big ears and played with them, Mr Sangay recalled.

"He's pure and has no ill intentions at all," he said while sharing an incident in which he said the Dalai Lala made him feel embarrassed.

He also called out the celebrities who had spoken on the issue, while naming rapper Cardi B, for "abusing their power". The rapper's controversial tweet stating "the world is full of predators" was linked with the Dalai Lama episode.

The first CTA President also recalled an incident from during the Covid time when the Pfizer vaccine was arranged with the help of Indian and US authorities for the aged leader and he refused to take it. He also refused any "special treatment" and got vaccinated "like ordinary Tibetans and Indians" at a hospital, he said.

"He never used his personal popularity and influence," he said.

Stating that it's fair to show concern towards children, he questioned the lack of media coverage of a million Tibetan children being allegedly separated from their nomadic families and forced to study in Chinese-language schools in urban areas. "All these major media who covered the incident of Dalai Lama, did not report on this," he rued.

In the controversial video that triggered outrage, the Dalai Lama was seen sticking his tongue out and heard asking him "can you suck my tongue". Later, in a statement from his Twitter account, the Buddhist monk apologised to the boy, his family, and others who were hurt by his words.