New Delhi — Reaffirming their strong support for the Tibetan cause, the 'All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum For Tibet" has urged the Chinese Government to resume dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
As resolved during the standing committee meeting of the Tibetan Parliament, a three-member delegation of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, led by Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, have been meeting leaders of the Indian government and members of the Indian parliament in New Delhi from 25 July 2016, according to a report by the Tibetan administration media.
During the first week of the visit, from 25 – 29 July, the delegation met with five Union Cabinet Ministers, 29 parliamentarians from eight different political parties, top police officers of the city and eminent scholars. The delegation apprised the Indian dignitaries on the current situation inside Tibet, the wave of Tibetan self-immolation protests and the state-sponsored environmental destruction taking place inside Tibet.
In the second week, the delegation met with three Union Cabinet Ministers and 24 parliamentarians from 11 different political parties, including members of the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet.
During the various meetings, the leaders and lawmakers of the Indian government expressed deep respect and appreciation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his exemplary leadership of the Tibetan people and his contribution to promotion of non-violence, democracy, religious tolerance and environmental protection.
Expressing concern over the environmental destruction in Tibet among many other issues, the leaders called for an increased awareness and expert discussions on the current situation of Tibet. They also expressed their cooperation and goodwill in facilitating future meetings between members of the two parliament.
On 2 August, a meeting of All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum For Tibet was held under the convenorship of Shri Shanta Kumar, former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh and a current member of the Indian Parliament at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.
After the conclusive meeting, the Forum passed eight resolutions in support of the Middle Way Approach urging the Chinese Government to resume dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration and reaffirmed their support for the Tibetan cause.
The meeting was attended by 16 Indian parliamentarians from eight different political parties, a delegation of the standing committee led by Deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Representative Kasur Tempa Tsering of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Coordinator of ITCO Mr Jigmey Tsultrim.
This is the second APPFT meeting convened by the former chief minister Shri Shanta Kumar. However it is the first APPFT meeting attended and facilitated by members of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
