New Delhi, August 23 – Shri M.A. Kharabela Swain (Convener of All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, APIPFFT) raised a question on the issue of Tibet in the Lok Sabha during a question hour session on 18th August 2004.
The question was raised when Shri K.Natwar Singh (Minister of External Affairs, Government of India) in his answer to a question on Sino-Indian Border talks by Shri Nakul Das Rai said that there had been three rounds of talks between India and China on the border issue and the next round of talks would be held in the coming few months.
Mr. Kharabela questioned whether there was any discussion with the Chinese with regard to providing full autonomy to Tibet? If yes, what was the Chinese’s response to that? Although his question was interrupted more than once Mr. Kharabela managed to put up his question. In his question he also mentioned that His Holiness had given up his idea or demand about an Independent Tibet.
In his answer, Mr. K. Natwar Singh said, “Our policy with regard to Tibet is well known. We consider Tibet as an autonomous region of China and that is the Government’s policy”
Other members who joined the discussion was Shri Mohan Singh (Convener of APIPFFT), Shri Nakul Das Rai and Shri Thupten Tsewang.
