India may be lagging behind China economically, but its free and democratic society will eventually enable it to have far more influence in the world than its Communist neighbour, believes the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan spiritual leader preferred India's democracy, transparency and independent judiciary over China's massive
economic prowess, which he said was not enough to bring a
"genuine" and "happy society".
He said this when asked which country, according to him, will have greater influence in the world in the years ahead -- a democratic India or a Communist China -- after accepting the prestigious Democracy Service Medal from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) at the historic Library of Congress at the Capitol Hill.
Rebuking the Chinese leadership for losing touch with real socialism, the Dalai Lama said it is India which will have greater influence in the world even if it was currently behind China as far as economic development is concerned.
India has "democracy, (is) transparent and has free information, open society and independent judiciary," which was not the case with China, he said, describing Manmohan Singh as a "saintly prime minister".
"So these are very much lacking in People's Republic of China, unfortunately. So the hardliner Communist leadership, they do not see the holistic picture in order to bring genuine, happy society," he noted.
