The Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs has formed a team involving relevant agencies to look into the issue submitted by the Trashigang’s dzongkhag tshogdu (DT) seeking intervention to authenticate the legitimacy of two individuals who claimed to be reincarnated trulku.

Trashigang DT, on August 23, forwarded the case to home ministry and department of culture involving two individuals of Druk karzay tshethar tshogpa, Karsang and Yeshi Dorji, who is popularly known as Jadrel Yeshi Dorji, of forming a group on WeChat and conducting deceitful practices.

Local leaders accused the two of allegedly performing religious ceremonies and even blessing people. They alleged that Karsang was a taxi driver and Yeshi Dorji a lecturer in Trashigang before they became member of the tshogpa with an objective to make people aware of the benefits of living a vegetarian life.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said the team comprising of officials from department of culture, department of law and order, and department of local government would be leaving next week to validate the issue.

“The minister has already met with the relevant agencies and formed a team,” prime minister said. “Based on the report, the home ministry will decide whether it should be forwarded to the trulku ngedzin tshogpa or if the issue can be addressed at the ministry level.”

Earlier, Home Minister Dawa Gyaltshen told Kuensel that the ministry is looking into the issue and will follow due processes to address the issues.

As per the 2005 National Assembly resolution, it is mandatory for trulkus to be recognised by the trulku tshogpa.

Choedhey Lhentshog refers to a religious person as a lam or trulku only if their census records and an acknowledgement letter from the trulku ngedzin tshogpa support it.

Yangchen C Rinzin