Pocket money involved in judiciary: Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama on Friday hinted that the judiciary was not free from corruption, making the remark in the presence of Supreme Court and Delhi High Court judges, reports Tushar Srivastava.

The Dalai Lama on Friday hinted that the judiciary was not free from corruption, making the remark in the presence of Supreme Court and Delhi High Court judges.

HT Image

“Maybe in the judiciary, some pocket money is working,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said in response to a question at the 15th Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture.

When it was pointed out that senior judges were in the audience, the Dalai Lama said, “I apologise… I was too blunt.”

Asked about the Dalai Lama’s comments, Delhi High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah said, “No, no… I don’t think he meant it.”

On the US-China joint statement that called for a greater role for Beijing in South Asia, the Dalai Lama said that he had always told world leaders that when they think of Asia they should remember India, too.

“Historically, as well as in the size of its population, India is very important. Population-wise, it is the greatest democratic country,” he said.

The exiled leader added, “In order to develop genuine harmony, trust is the key thing. Around 1.3 billion Chinese people have a right to know the reality. The government has no business to keep it restricted. They should act as genuine communists.”

Recounting the revolutionary beginnings of Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong, the Dalai Lama said, “Power spoiled him.” He recalled that initially the Communist party would encourage criticism but a few years later, “all people who criticised were wiped out”.

The Dalai Lama said he was so impressed by the Chinese Communist Party in the early days that he wanted to join the party. “In philosophy, I am still a Marxist but I am not a Leninist. I am totally against control and power.”