(TibetanReview.net, Aug12’24) – A delegation from the Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE) has concluded on Aug 9 a five-day Tibet outreach campaign in India’s capital Delhi, taking part in the relaunch of the Tibet group in the newly elected Indian Parliament and calling on a total of 28 members of it. These members belonged to more than 10 political parties and included two union government ministers.
Altogether, the delegation, divided into two groups, reached out to 44 prominent Indian leaders, said the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on its Tibet.net website Aug 12. These were stated to include two Union Ministers, 28 Members of Parliament (MP’s) belonging to 11 political parties and one independent who together represented 18 states. India currently has 28 states and 9 Union Territories.
Thirteen of the MP’s the delegation met with took part in the dinner-relaunch on Aug 5 of the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT). This oldest parliamentary group for Tibet was first established way back in 1970.
Other Indian leaders the TPiE delegation met with were stated to include the Speaker and an MLA of the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, the General Secretary of India’s ruling BJP with two of the BJP spokespersons, the General Secretary of Janata Dal (United), 6 former MP’s and MLA’s, and two leaders of Tibet support groups. MLA’s are members of state legislatures.
The report said that in their meetings, the delegation “shed light on the grave situation of the Tibetan people under the Chinese Communist regime while highlighting the cordial relationship shared by India and Tibet grounded in geographical, cultural, and religious ties while focusing on the increasing China’s expansionist and aggressive policies and the need of holding the Chinese government accountable for its actions.”
The delegation members – Atuk Tseten, Lopon Thupten Gyaltsen, Tsanetsang Dhondup Tashi, Geshe Ngaba Gangri, Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen, and Tsering Yangchen – also visited the new Indian parliament building and observed the ongoing parliament session, the 265th session of Rajya Sabha (the upper house), the report said.