Dharamshala, 6th August 2024: A parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel has been actively advocating for Tibet during India’s budget session in Delhi. The delegation’s efforts began on August 5, 2024, and will continue until August 9, 2024.
On their second day, the delegation met with two Union Ministers, nine parliamentarians from five different political parties, and five former MPs and MLAs.
The delegation’s meetings included:
- Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines
- Shri Tapir Gao, Member of Lok Sabha (BJP, Arunachal Pradesh)
- Shri Mitesh Rameshbhai Patel, Member of Lok Sabha (BJP, Gujarat)
- Shri Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, Member of Lok Sabha (BJP, Gujarat)
- Shri Sudhakar Singh, Member of Lok Sabha (Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bihar)
- Shri Mohammad Haneefa, Member of Lok Sabha (Independent, Ladakh)
- Shri Shashikant Senthil, Member of Lok Sabha (Indian National Congress, Tamil Nadu, Former IAS Officer)
- Shri Naresh Bansal, Rajya Sabha MP (BJP, Uttarakhand)
- Shri Richard Vanlalhmangaiha, Member of Lok Sabha (Zoram Peoples Movement, Mizoram)
- Dr. Ravindra Narayan Behera, Member of Lok Sabha (BJP, Orissa)
- Smt. Meenakshi Natrajan, All India Congress Committee (Former MP, Neemuch) and President, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Sangathan
- Shri Jeet Singh, Researcher, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Contemporary Studies
- Dr. Pankaj Pushkar, Senior Fellow, Legislative Support Group, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and Former MLA, Delhi Legislative Assembly
- Shri Bhanwar Meghwanshi, People’s Union for Civil Liberties
- Prof. Subhash Saini, Editor, Journal Desh Haryana
During their meetings, the delegation expressed gratitude to India for its support of exiled Tibetans over the past 65 years and requested continued backing for the Tibet cause. They highlighted the critical situation inside Tibet and presented a twelve-point appeal. The delegation also introduced the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and urged key Indian leaders to join the All-Party Indian Parliamentarians Forum for Tibet (APIPFT).
