Tibetan Parliament-in-exile’s “Solidarity with Tibet” lobbying campaign in India concludes in the state of Rajasthan following the Tibetan MPs meeting with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot
DHARAMSHALA: The south zone Tibetan Parliamentary delegation, which is leading the campaign, called upon Chief Minister Gehlot and offered him a memento and a memorandum urging him for his continuous support for the Tibetan cause. Mr Gehlot warmly greeted the delegation and expressed his sincere solidarity with the Tibetan people.
Earlier on 12th Sept, the delegation met the state education minister, Mr Brij Kishore Sharma, and briefed him about the worsening situation in Tibet. It also met Mr Kunwar Jai Singh of Ajairajpura of Jaipur. Kunwar Jai Singh told the delegates that he is a huge admirer of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and praised the perseverance of Tibetans in carrying a non-violent struggle against China despite immense odds. He offered his best wishes for the Tibetan struggle and assured his moral and financial support for the cause.
The following day, a press conference was held at the Press Club of the city and the media took deep interest in the briefing and covered the Tibet issue the next day.
The delegation also met with the members of Tibet Support Group and Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch (BTSM) of Jaipur and Jodhpur, including Mr. Vikram Singh Rathore and Ms. Resham Bala. BTSM Jaipur headed by Mr Nirmal Jain offered warm reception to the delegation.
Earlier this week, the delegates organised a press conference and a public meeting at the Circuit House in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, before they left Rajasthan. The Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society in Gujarat led by Prof. G.P. Jyotikar coordinated the events. The public meeting proved major success with over 40 Tibet supporters including local Buddhists taking active part in the discussion. The participants expressed strong support and solidarity for the Tibetan struggle and offered valuable suggestions on ways to promote Tibetan freedom struggle.
Mr. Jigme Jungney, a member of the Parliamentary delegation, talking about the lobbying campaign said, “while thanking the government and people of India for the support and security provided to the Tibetans, we appealed to the Indian Government to raise the issue of Tibet with the Chinese Government and press them to stop human rights violation in Tibet and address the concerns of the Tibetan people that is resulting in the spate of self-immolations. We also stressed on resumption of Sino-Tibetan dialogue and sending of an independent fact-finding delegation inside Tibet.”
“To honor the Tibetan martyrs and to inform the people of India about the exigency of the ongoing crisis, and to garner their support, several Tibetan Parliamentary delegations have traversed the length and breadth of India to call upon the respective constitutional authorities, political leaders, academicians, think-tanks, celebrities as well as interact with the general public. I am overwhelmed by the immense support and solidarity that we have received during our campaign tour,” said Ms Tsering Youdon, another member of the delegation.
The South-Zone Tibetan Parliamentary delegation comprised Mr. Gyari Bhutuk, Ms. Tsering Youdon, Ven. Atuk Tseten, Dr. Bumo Tsering, Mr. Jigme Jungney and Mr. Lobsang Yeshi . They visited Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan during their two-month-long Tibet lobbying campaign.
