Itanagar, February 8: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has strongly condemned what he described as “malicious and baseless speculation” linking 14th Dalai Lama to the so-called “Epstein files,” backing an official rebuttal issued by the spiritual leader’s office.
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| Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu with 14th Dalai Lama. (Image Courtesy: facebook.com/PemaKhanduBJP) |
Reacting to the controversy, Khandu voiced firm support for the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (OHHDL), which on February 8 issued an unequivocal denial rejecting any association with the late Jeffrey Epstein. The Chief Minister said attempts to drag the Dalai Lama’s name into such narratives amounted to a deliberate misinformation campaign aimed at maligning a revered spiritual institution.
Taking to social media, Khandu said the institution of the Dalai Lama stands for global peace, compassion, and moral integrity, and must not be targeted through unfounded allegations or sensationalist narratives. He termed the circulation of such claims as “deeply irresponsible and condemnable.”
“The revered institution of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama must not be dragged into baseless narratives or malicious speculation like the so-called ‘Epstein files.’ Attempts to malign a sacred spiritual institution through misinformation are deeply irresponsible,” Khandu said.
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The Chief Minister, a prominent voice for Himalayan Buddhist communities, reiterated that the Dalai Lama is widely regarded as an apostle of peace and harmony, and that periodic attacks on his reputation often stem from politically motivated efforts to undermine Tibetan spiritual authority.
Khandu’s remarks came amid a surge of unverified claims circulating on social media and certain media platforms following the release of unclassified documents related to Epstein. The OHHDL, in its statement, categorically dismissed the reports as false and misleading, urging the public to rely only on credible and verified sources.
The controversy has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders, religious figures, and civil society groups, who have called for restraint and responsibility in public discourse involving globally respected spiritual leaders.
