By Sujay Mehdudia

McLEODGANJ (H.P.), JAN. 13. Even as several renowned monks flock to McLeodganj - headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile - for an audience with the 17th Karmapa, Tibetan officials are finding it extremely difficult to handle the ``crisis'' which has confronted them since the arrival of Ugyen Trinley Dorjee from China on January 5.

Still to come to terms with the situation, the Tibetan government-in-exile is wondering what to do with the 14-year-old Karmapa who continues to be housed in the Gyuto Tantrick monastery at Sidhbari.

An emergency meeting of the Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet) was held on Wednesday night. Surprisingly, the Kashag has still to take a formal stand on the status of the Karmapa as also on seeking asylum for him in India. However, senior Tibetan officials say they have left the decision of his future plans to the boy monk.

In a related development, the Karmapa was brought to Mcleodganj last evening for consultations with senior Tibetan officials just before the Kashag was summoned. It is learnt that the issue of his political asylum was discussed.

Interestingly, Mr. Namgyal Gompo, maternal uncle of the 14-year- old Karmapa and a German passport-holder, was not allowed to meet the latter and was whisked away by security agencies from the Tantrick monastery. Mr. Namgyal, having pro- China leanings, is learnt to have met the Karmapa's sister and asked her to impress upon him (Karmapa) to inform the Chinese authorities about his presence in India. He is also supposed to have asked them to assure China that the Karmapa would return after completing this phase of his education.

The Tibetan government-in-exile has maintained a stoic silence over the entire issue and all senior ranking officials are evading the media and have gone underground. Similarly, the Minister for Religion and Culture, Mr. Tashi Wangdi, has been meeting the Karmapa almost daily and seeking his views on various developments and the options before him. Tibetan officials argue that even if the Karmapa was allowed to stay in India, he would either have to go to the Shera Biling monastery in Baijnath or to the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim. Officials here are also in touch with the heads of the Sikkim monastery and have reportedly sought the intervention of the Sikkim Chief Minister, Mr. Pawan Chamling, in the matter.

Tibetan officials also consulted senior officials of the Intelligence Bureau and the Minister of External Affairs and are also exploring the possibility of shifting the Karmapa to a foreign country in order to save India a major embarrassment. The Karmapa has a strong following in Chicago and Switzerland from where invitations are reportedly pouring in.

In another development, Tai Situ Rinpoche, said to be the brain behind the escape of the Karmapa and who currently resides in Shera Biling monastery, is said to have begun plans to mobilise support for the Karmapa. A big group of Lamas is expected to arrive from Rumtek, Sikkim, which could also be the possible destination of the Karmapa as it is under the Kagyu sect of which Ugyen Trinely Dorjee is the head.

Tai Situ Rinpoche had been banned from entering India (the ban was lifted last year) and has spent a lot of time roaming around the globe. Those who are likely to arrive here include Khamtrool, Rinpoche, Dozang Rinpoche, and Choloo Rinpoche of the Beed Monastery. Iyan Rinpoche from Mankot, Karnataka, is also expected. Gyalsten Rinpoche of the Rumtek Monastery met the Karmapa along with his supporters.

Although several Tibetans including monks and Lamas have made a beeline for McLeodganj, only a select few are being allowed to meet the Karmapa. It is understood that the number of delegations the boy Lama will receive in the coming days would be increased in an effort to mobilise opinion in his favour and put pressure on New Delhi to act fast on the matter.

On the other hand, the war of succession is likely to intensify in the coming days on who the real Karmapa is as there are now four claimants to the seat. Only on Wednesday, China had announced that it had discovered a reincarnation but did not give further details. Opposition to the 17th Karmapa has come from Shamarpa Rinpoche who has termed the escape of Ugyen Trinley Dorjee as a Chinese ploy.

It is believed that the Kagyu sect is one of the richest and the real issue could be the control of assets which are estimated to be over $1.2 billion. However, the 17th Karmapa has the biggest advantage of having the approval of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.