New Delhi: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama apologised Monday after a video of him kissing a minor boy on the lips and then asking him to “suck his tongue” went viral.
In a statement, the office of the Dalai Lama said: “A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug. His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.”
The statement, which was tweeted, added: “His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident.”
The viral video shows the Dalai Lama kissing the child on the lips as the latter gets close to pay his respects. There was much laughter going around, as the Dalai Lama touched his forehead to the boys’. After a few seconds, the spiritual leader can be seen sticking his tongue out and is heard telling the body, “Suck my tongue”.
According to the official website of The Dalai Lama, on 28 February, he greeted 120 graduating students and members of M3M Foundation. The minor was a part of this group. The incident took place in the yard of the Tsuglagkhang, the main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, adjacent to the Dalai Lama’s residence.
ThePrint reached M3M Foundation, a Gurugram-based NGO, via calls but received no response.
Speaking to ThePrint, Child Rights Activist, Anindita Sarbadhicari said that spiritual leaders are not exempt from law. “Such heinous acts by men in positions of power, especially religious institutions, are not new. The Catholic Church, self-proclaimed godmen — we have seen (such behaviour) before and cringed,” she said.
“Here is a man perpetrating such a crime in the public eye. Severe actions should be taken. If we can’t protect our children, then shame on us,” she added.
This isn’t the first time the Dalai Lama has courted controversy. In 2019, during an interview to the BBC, he had said, “If a female Dalai Lama comes, she should be more attractive”, while laughing.
Back then, too, his office had issued a statement of regret. “It sometimes happens that off the cuff remarks, which might be amusing in one cultural context, lose their humour in translation when brought into another. He regrets any offence that may have been given. Throughout his life, the Dalai Lama has opposed the objectification of women and supported gender equality,” it stated.
(This is an updated version of the article)
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