Tibetan parliamentary team meets Indian political leaders

Tribune News Service

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Dharamsala, August 9

A Tibetan parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, as a part of the Tibetan advocacy campaign, met key Indian political leaders.

It held meetings with Sujeet Kumar, Rajya Sabha MP; Kethi Reddy Suresh Reddy, Lok Sabha MP; Mohammad Nisar, general secretary of Janata Dal (United); and Surendra Kumar, co-convener of the Core Group for Tibetan Cause in Delhi, said a press note of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

The first group of the Tibetan parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Tenphel and consisting of MP Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten and MP Tsaneytsang Dhondup Tashi met with Sujeet Kumar and expressed gratitude to him for his role as the convener of the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet for the past three years and his valuable contribution to the Tibetan cause. It presented him with a 12-point appeal letter and sought his continued support. Sujeet affirmed his steadfast commitment to the Tibetan cause, the CTA press note said.

The group met with Mohammad Nisar and also presented him with the 12-point appeal letter outlining the critical situation in Tibet. Nisar, who has keen interest in Buddhism and is aware of the Sino-Tibetan conflict, acknowledged the historical support of JDU leaders like George Fernandes and many current leaders of the to the Tibetan cause.

The second group consisting of MPs Lopon Thupten Gyaltsen, Geshe Gangri, Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen and Tsering Yangchen met with Kethi Reddy Suresh Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Telangana.

It briefed Reddy about the critical situation in Tibet, including the forced placement of children as young as six years in boarding schools with the recent closure of Tibetan institutions such as Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling (Jigme Gyaltsen Nationalities Vocational School) in Golok. The delegation presented him with the 12-point appeal letter, highlighting the tragic self immolation by 157 Tibetans in protest against China’s policies and urged him to join the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet.

Throughout their advocacy campaign, the delegation also met with other key Indian leaders, emphasising the urgency of the situation in Tibet and the aspirations of the Tibetan people. Indian leaders expressed their support and solidarity with Tibetans. The delegation was accompanied by Tashi Dekyi, Acting Coordinator of India Tibet Coordination Office; Tenzin Paljor and Tenzin Sherab, staff of Tibetan parliamentary secretariat; and Phuntsok Gyatso, Delhi-based coordinator of Tibetan parliament-in-exile.

12-point letter

The Tibetan parliamentary delegation presented to the Indian leaders a 12-point appeal letter outlining the

critical situation in Tibet