PRESS STATEMENT
Issued jointly by;
ALL PARTY INDIAN PARLIAMENTARY FORUM FOR TIBET and THE CORE GROUP FOR TIBETAN CAUSE.
DALAI LAMA’S FELICITATION: GOVERNMENT’S ADVISORY TO MINISTERS WAS UNFORTUNATE. INDIA SHOULD HONOUR DALAI LAMA WITH “BHARAT-RATNA”
New Delhi, November 5: The decision of the Central government, directing the central ministers and other senior government functionaries not to attend the felicitation function of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi on 3rd November, has demonstrated utter lack of diplomatic skills and national self respect on the part of Indian government. This decision looks more unfortunate in the light of fears that the government has taken this step simply to accommodate the sensitivities of a Chinese regime that has been consistently showing disregard and contempt for Indian national interests and public sentiments.
This insensitivity, demonstrated by the government has not only hurt the feelings of millions of supporters of Tibet and Dalai Lama, but also of those millions of individuals all over the world who admire HH the Dalai Lama for showing way towards peaceful resolution of the most complicated political and social issues facing the human race today.
We wish the India government policy makers had realized that this function was not a political assembly. It was organized by respected groups including the Gandhi Peace Foundation and All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet as an acknowledgement of the admirable international stature that HH the Dalai Lama has attained in past five decades as the most outstanding protagonist of peace, religious tolerance and universal brotherhood of our times.
The recent civic honour bestowed by the American parliament on him in the form of “Congressional Gold Medal” is the latest in the line of numerous (over 50) prestigious international awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize and Ramon Magsaysay Award, that this robed Messiah of peace has been honoured with. The status of “Congressional Gold Medal” in the USA is held in same esteem, if not more, than what “Bharat Ratna” holds in the Indian context.
We take this opportunity to remind the policy makers of Indian government that HH the Dalai Lama is pursuing a policy of finding a peaceful solution to the Tibetan issue through dialogue with the leaders of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This brave Gandhian gesture on his part is in spite of the fact that China has forcibly occupied Tibet and that the inhuman treatment of colonized Tibetan people has resulted so far into loss of over 1.2 million (12 lakh) Tibetan lives.
We therefore call upon the Indian government that:
1. In stead of taking this type of immature decisions, it should use its influence on the colonial Chinese rulers of Tibet to solve the Tibetan issue through a peaceful dialogue with HH the Dalai Lama. He is the most suitable representative of Tibetan people as its deposed ruler and the highest religious leader. This way Indian government would be helping the government and leaders of PRC in finding a respectable way out of the Tibetan colonial mess they have landed themselves in to;
2. In line with so many prominent parliaments across the world, like the European Parliamnet and US Congress, the Indian Parliament too should invite HH the Dalai Lama to address the joint session of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha;
3. Acknowledging that HH the Dalai Lama has attained his current international status as a true son of India and representative of Indian values, the Government of India should honour him with “Bharat Ratna”, a long over due decision which should have been taken long ago.
_____________________
CORE GROUP FOR TIBETAN CAUSE
The Umbrella Organization and Central Coordinating Body of all Tibet Support Groups in India
H-10 2nd Floor, Lajpat Nagar-III, New Delhi-110024
For further details and comments, please contact:
1. Mr. BASHISHTHA NARAYAN SINGH (M.P.), Convenor : All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet . Phone : 98681 81567
2. Ven. ACHARYA YESHI PHUNSOK, Member, Tibetan Parliament in Exile. Phone : 98998 66441
3. Dr. N.K. TRIKHA, Convenor, Core Group For Tibetan Cause. Phone : 9868122394
4. Mr. VIJAY KRANTI, Tibetologist and senior journalist. Phone : 98102 45674
