NEW DELHI: Following remarks by Union minister Kiren Rijiju backing the Dalai Lama’s announcement about his succession, including the statement that China will have no role in it, India on Friday said it had taken no position on what was an issue concerning faith and religion.Interestingly, the Chinese foreign ministry, after cautioning India at a media briefing, according to agency reports from Beijing, against interfering in Tibetan affairs at the expense of Sino-India ties, omitted its comments objecting to Rijiju’s remarks from the official transcript of the briefing.“Govt of India does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion,” foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, responding to media queries. Govt committed to protecting freedom of religion for everyone in India, says MEA The MEA spokesperson added that Indian govt has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and would continue to do so.India’s ties with China have shown signs of improvement in the past nine months, since they resolved the almost-five-year-long border stand-off in eastern Ladakh, leading to resumption of high-level bilateral visits. Amid global uncertainties, both sides seem keen to maintain a steady working relationship.Defence minister Rajnath Singh visited China last month for a meeting of the SCO defence ministers. NSA Ajit Doval has twice visited China since PM Modi’s meeting with President Xi Jinping in Oct last year on the margins of the Brics summit in Russia. As special representative for boundary talks, Wang himself is likely to visit India this month for talks with Doval. India, however, is yet to confirm Modi’s participation in the SCO summit in China in Sept.Unlike the US, which officially maintains that China has no role to play in the Dalai Lama’s succession, India has never taken any position on the issue. China maintains that the successor to the 14th Dalai Lama can only be appointed through the “traditional” process that includes approval by the central govt. In rare remarks by an Indian minister, Rijiju had backed the spiritual leader’s assertion that no one else other than his trust would help choose his successor. The minister clarified on Friday that he wasn’t speaking on behalf of the Indian govt but as a devotee himself, expressing the perspective of the Dalai Lama’s followers.“All over the world, the people who follow Buddhism and who believe in the sacred, supreme Dalai Lama-ji… it is everyone’s wish that the Dalai Lama-ji himself will decide. There is no need for govt of India or for me to say anything. I am speaking as a follower. I am not saying anything on… the Chinese govt’s statement,” the minister said.