By Gloria Methri, Republica – 17 July 2021
The President of the Tibetan government in exile, Penpa Tsering spoke exclusively to Republic TV on Saturday, and shed light on China’s repressive actions against Tibetans, the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government’s relation with India.
Speaking of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet greeting Dalai Lama on his 86th birthday, President Tsering said it sends out a clear message to China about Indian-Tibetan relations. He noted while PM Modi has extended greetings to the spiritual leader many times before, it was for the first time, that the greeting was made public.
“For us as Tibetans, we do not see anything new in PM Modi greeting His Holiness. But with technological advancement and changing modes of communication, I am sure there must be a reason behind PM making his tweet public, and if there is, I am sure the message will have gone across to China – where it was intended to go,” said President Tsering in a bold statement.”
‘Open to discuss Tibetan border issues with India’
Asked if PM Modi’s meeting with Dalai Lama would be a natural coronary, given their good relations, the Tibetan President said, if there is a possible meeting between the two leaders, His Holiness will focus much more on is global responsibilities than just Tibet alone. “But if the Indian government brings Tibetan border on its agenda, I am sure there would be an option to discuss this,” he added.
Read the full report here.