Parliament Remembers Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s Support for Tibetan Refugees[Thursday, 20 May 2010, 2:07 p.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (R) during a meeting with Vice President Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, in New Delhi on 8 October 2002/File

Dharamshala: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) has extended its sincere condolence to the family members of India’s former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who passed away in Jaipur at the age of 87 on 15 May 2010. In its condolence message dated 18 May 2010, TPiE’s Deputy Speaker Dolma Gyari said: “Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile joined the great nation of India as she mourns the departure of His Excellency Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the 11th Vice President of the Republic of India.”“His Excellency was a leader of the people and thus shall always remain in the hearts of the people. We are grateful to the consecutive government of Rajasthan for the assistance rendered to the Tibetan refugees. Some of the largest Tibetan sweater selling markets are in the state of Rajasthan and His Excellency as the Chief Minister of the State have always sympathetically addressed the problems of our people.“In 2002, His Excellency in his capacity as the Vice President of India met with His Holiness the Dalai lama. His Excellency was expressive in his supports for the rights of the Tibetan people tofreedom and justice.“Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile offers sincere condolence to His Excellency’s family members, friends and the Party,” the letter noted.