NEW DELHI: A week-long lobbying campaign by the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation concludes in New Delhi on Sunday following meeting with over 28 Indian MPs from 13 different political parties. The Indian lawmakers that the delegates called upon included 1 former Prime Minister, 9 former Union Ministers, 5 former Chief Ministers and 13 party leaders. Prominent among them were Mr. H.D.Deve Gowda, Mr. P.A.Sangma, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiya, Mr. Sharad Yadav, Mr. Shanta Kumar, Mr. D. Raja, Mr. Ajit Singh, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Mr. Arivind Kejriwal, Mr. Digvijay Singh, Mr. Bashist Nayarayan, Mr. Kiren Rijiju, Mr. Shatrughan Sinha, Dr. Thokchom Menya and Mr. Thupten Chewang.
Other Indian MPs include late Tibet supporter Mr. Mohan Singh’s daughter Ms. Kanak Lata Singh and late Tibet supporter Mr. Brij Bhushan Tiwari’s son Mr. Alok Tiwari and Mr. Mukut Mithi, Mr. Ninong Ering, Ms. Vimla Kashyab and Mr. Ramdass Athawale.
While meeting the Indian leaders, the delegates congratulated the leaders for their election victory and thank them for their support for Tibet. They also apprise the Indian leaders of the ongoing situation inside Tibet and urged them to bolster their support in resolving the crisis in Tibet.
Most importantly, the delegates requested the Indian MPs to participate in the All-India Parliamentary Forum for Tibet and help revitalize the Forum to bolster Tibet advocacy in the Indian Parliament and various international platforms.
The Tibetan MPs also presented a 5-Point Memorandum to the Indian lawmakers urging them to; 1) Call upon China to immediately end the human rights violation in Tibet 2) Call for an International fact-finding delegation to investigate and report on the real causes behind the self-immolations. 3) To urge the Chinese Government to resume dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and CTA for early resolution of Tibetan issue. 4) Raise the issue of Tibet in the Indian Parliament and help intensify diplomatic and international pressure on the Chinese government and 5) Urge the Indian Government to make Tibetan issue a priority in India-China relationship and make India’s position on Tibet more pronounced.
During the entire campaign, the Indian leaders accorded a heart-warming reception to the Tibetan MPs and assured them of their continuous support and solidarity with the Tibetans. They expressed utmost love and reverence for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and vow to carry forward the commitments of their senior leaders and the party towards the Tibetan people. The leaders unanimously acknowledged the importance of reviving the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet and expressed their willingness to participate in the same. They also urged the Tibetan delegation to keep them updated of the Tibet situation and to call on at regular intervals in future. They earnestly offer their valuable guidance regarding the future course of actions for Tibet etc.
The delegation comprises of Tibetan MPs; Mrs Dolma Tsering, Ven. Monlam Tharchin, Ven. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Mr. Choekyong Wangchuk and Mr. Lobsang Yeshi. The delegation is a part of the series of Tibetan Parliamentary Advocacy Team being launched through a resolution adopted by the Standing Committee of the exile Parliament following a discussion meeting during the 7th Session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament.
