7th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet, 7-10 May 2019, Riga, Latvia
Pradeep Tamta
I will make 2-3 points. What is the relation between India, China and Tibet? We have different position than other states. You are European. You are from the USA. We are a very very neighbouring countries, a long history of India, China and Tibet. We have cultural relation. We have religious relation. Buddhism went to China through the Tibetan culture and Tibetan language. The Tibetans have visited our country. So we have a unique relation. This is the 60th year of Tibetan uprising and the arrival of the Dalai Lama in India. We have supported them. Our government has supported them. Our people have also supported them. Our parliamentarians have supported them. I am a member of All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet. It was constituted by the famous jurist M.C. Chagla. He initiated this forum. Later on the labour leader Mr. George Fernandes revived this forum. He became the first chairman of All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet. The first World Parliamentarian’s Convention on Tibet was held in India. On two occasions the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum invited His Holiness in 1994 and 2005. His Holiness conveyed his message to the forum. At the moment Mr. Shanta Kumar, one of the members of Parliament from Dharamsala (H.P) is the convenor of the forum. In 2007 we requested the Dalai Lama to address the Indian parliament. I think the new parliament is coming. We will also request the Speaker of the Indian Parliament to invite the Dalai Lama. He may join the Indian parliament and say something about the Tibetan struggle, about IndiaChina relation. As mentioned by my colleague, Mr. Ripun Bora, yesterday, we the parliamentarians and also the signatories of the memorandum have requested the Indian govt. to confer Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award on His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I think that will become true someday. This is how the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet members are supporting
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