Dharamshala, 8th August 2024: A Tibetan parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, continued their Tibet outreach campaign on their fourth day of the Tibet advocacy campaign meeting key Indian leaders.

They held meetings with Shri. Sujeet Kumar,  Rajya Sabha MP; Shri Kethi Reddy Suresh Reddy,  Lok Sabha MP; Shri Mohammad Nisar, General Secretary of Janata Dal (United);  and Shri Surendra Kumar, Co-convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause.

The first group of the Tibetan parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and consisting of MP Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten and MP Tsaneytsang Dhondup Tashi met with Shri Sujeet Kumar, Rajya Sabha MP. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the MP for his role as the convener of the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet for the last three years and his valuable contribution to the Tibetan cause. They presented him with a 12-point appeal letter and sought his continued support. Shri Kumar affirmed his steadfast commitment to the Tibetan cause.

Thereafter, the group met with Shri Mohammad Nisar, National Secretary, Janata Dal (United). They presented him with the 12-point appeal letter outlining the critical situation in Tibet. Shri Nisar, who has a keen interest in Buddhism and is aware of the Sino-Tibetan conflict, acknowledged the historical support of JDU leaders like Shri George Fernandes and noted that many current leaders of JDU also support Tibet.

The second group consisting of MP Lopon Thupten Gyaltsen, MP Geshe Gangri, MP Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen, and MP Tsering Yangchen met with Shri Kethi Reddy Suresh Reddy (Rajya Sabha MP, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Telangana). They briefed him about the critical situation in Tibet including the forced placement of children as young as six in boarding schools with the recent closure of Tibetan institutions such as the Gangjong Sherig Norbu Lobling (Jigme Gyaltsen Nationalities Vocational School) in Golok. They presented him with the 12-point appeal letter, highlighted the tragic self-immolations by 157 Tibetans protesting China’s policies, and urged him to join the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet.

Throughout their advocacy campaign, the delegation also met with other key Indian leaders, emphasizing the urgency of the situation in Tibet and the aspirations of the Tibetan people. Indian leaders expressed their support and solidarity with Tibetans.

During the advocacy campaign, the delegation was accompanied by Tashi Dekyi, Acting Coordinator of India Tibet Coordination Office; Tenzin Paljor and Tenzin Sherab, staff of Tibetan parliamentary secretariat; and Phuntsok Gyatso, Delhi based coordinator of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.