Sikyong Penpa Tsering and the members of Tibetan delegation with Honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Photo: CMO Himachal

Dharamshala: Kicking off the second leg of his official visit to Tibetan settlements in Shimla, Kamrao, and Sataun, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, in his capacity as the incumbent Kalon (Minister) of the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration, arrived in Shimla on the evening of 16 April 2025, where he was warmly welcomed by the Tibetan community led by Chief Representative Officer (CRO) Tsewang Phuntsok.

The following day, Sikyong commenced his day-long programme with a visit to Rangzen Camp, followed by a stop at Jonang Takten Phuntsok Choeling, where he paid obeisance at the holy shrines and inspected the ongoing construction project. Sikyong then visited the Namgyal Monastery Old Age Home to interact with elderly Tibetans, before proceeding to the Sangye Choeling Tibetan residential area to engage with settlers.

Later in the afternoon, Sikyong paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, at his office to discuss land-related issues and other matters concerning the Central Tibetan Administration. In response, the Honourable Chief Minister assured that the matter would be deliberated upon by the state cabinet. At the same time, an invitation was also extended to the Honourable Chief Minister to attend the 90th birthday celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala.

This meeting was attended by Secretary Palden Dhondup, Department of Home; Secretary Jamphel Lhundup, Dalai Lama Trust; Chief Representative Officer Tsewang Phuntsok, CRO Shimla; Additional Secretary Tashi Dickey, Department of Home; and Deputy Secretary Lhakpa Tsering, who is designated to assume the role of Chief Representative Officer. Shri Subhash Kumar, IAS (Retd.) and former Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, and Amardeep, a Dharamshala-based Architect, also participated in the meeting to assist the Tibetan delegation.

In a similar vein, Sikyong, accompanied by Secretary Palden Dhondup, Additional Secretary Tashi Dickey, CRO Tsewang Phuntsok, incoming CRO Lhakpa Tsering, and Secretary of CRO Dechen Rabjam, also met with the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Prabodh Saxena. The delegation apprised the Chief Secretary of the challenges faced by the Tibetan community in the state and explored possible solutions.