By IANS,
Dharamsala : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Sunday congratulated the Chinese people on their New Year but asked their leadership to allow more freedom, rule of law and transparency in the country.
“On the occasion of Chinese New Year, or the spring festival, I extend my affectionate greetings to all our Chinese brothers and sisters across the globe, including those living in mainland China,” the Dalai Lama said in a statement here.
“Besides having a long history of over 5,000 years and a splendidly rich cultural heritage, China is also the most populous nation in the world. Moreover, it is emerging as a superpower. However, China cannot perform the responsibility of a superpower in this modern and progressive world if there is no freedom, rule of law and transparency in the country,” the Nobel peace laureate said.
The exiled spiritual leader also said that a harmonious society cannot be brought about by tyrant leadership.
“President Hu Jintao’s policy of creating a harmonious society is indeed laudable. Harmonious society should, however, come about through mutual trust, friendship and justice. It cannot be brought about by brute force and autocracy,” he said.
The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 following Chinese occupation of Tibet. He heads the government-in-exile based in this town Himachal town. Around 100,000 Tibetan exiles live in India.