Dharamshala: - On September 16, 2012, Mr Yashwant Sinha, Member of Indian Parliament and former union minister for finance and external affairs, said that people of Tibet are dealing with the Chinese government, a regime which lacks humanism and believes only in authoritarianism and repression, during his first day of 3-day visit to the Tibetan community in Dharamsala to express solidarity with Tibetans in view of the prevailing current critical situation in Tibet. The senior BJP leader, also met with representatives of six Tibetan NGOs on the same day.
Addressing the official crowds gathered at the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala, the heart of Tibetan people in exile on Saturday, Mr Sinha said he has come to Dharamsala to share the pain and the hope that Tibetans have. He suppressed his sentiment with heary wishes said "keep-up the struggle."
"I am here to give whatever little strength to that hope and your cause," said Mr Sinha, who is the convener of the All Party Parliamentarian Forum on Tibet in the Indian Parliament. Mr Sinha told the crowd that he just had "a private conversation with the honorable prime minister," Dr Lobsang Sangay.
"The manner in which the Tibetan people in and outside Tibet have continued their struggle for so many decades is a tribute to that indomitable spirit of courage, faith and determination, which cannot be put out by any power on earth. There is no power on earth to put out that flame which is burning in all your hearts," he said.
"It is the responsibility of the friends like me of the Tibetan cause to co-operate with you, to join, and to share the struggle that you have waged. I have come here on behalf of my Party and All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, to tell you that the government of India's policy may be different, dictated by geopolitical considerations, but the parliamentarians and people of India are being guided by only one feeling, the feeling of brotherhood for the people of Tibet," he said.
"We have perhaps failed in the sense that the kind of support which should have demonstrably come has often been wanting. Therefore, there is a need for all of us to strongly project in India and the people in rest of the world what exactly is happening to the people in Tibet," Mr Sinha said.
"Because of, with all the censorship and blackout that the regime imposes, much of that news doesn't come-out. It has been strongly projected, in India and rest of the world, what exactly is happening inside Tibet," the member of the Lok Sabha told the gathering.
"And anyone who hears or look-side the tragedy of Tibet, will no doubt of my mind become a strong supporter of Tibetan cause, so we need to continue to work in that direction," he added.
"The Tibetans are dealing with the Chinese government, a regime which lack of humanism and believes only in authoritarianism and repression. We need to marshal international public opinion as much as we can, which is being very ably done by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Kalon Tripa, in future with greater determination," he said.
"I have come here to tell you on behalf of all friends in Indian parliament, that we are solidly with you; that solidly with the cause of Tibet and the Tibetan people. We are willing and ready to co-operate with you in all your endeavours. At any point of time you feel if anyone of us can contribute, please do not feel hesitate, we are at your "beck and call," he added.
Expressing his deep appreciation for the unwavering support of Mr Yashwant Sinha to the non-violent Tibetan struggle, Kalon Tripa said his support is very crucial as Tibet is passing through an extremely difficult time. He said Tibet's Buddhist civilisation and democracy are products of India, adding that the Tibetan struggle is part of Indian struggle and its success will also be because of India.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Mr Sinha said he had detailed discussions on the current tragic situation in Tibet with senior officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, members of Tibetan NGOs and Tibet support groups in Dharamsala. He said a new strategy would soon come out of these discussions to deal the critical situation in Tibet.
During his three-day visit from 15-17 September, Mr Yashwant Sinha met senior officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, including members of the Kashag and the Parliament. He also met members of the Tibetan NGOs. The Tibetan Parliament hosted a dinner reception in honour of his visit to Dharamsala.
Representatives of six Tibetan NGOs based in Dharamshala met with Shri Yashwant Sinha and urged him to write to the Indian Foreign Minister to address Tibet's issue at various International fora including the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting. He signed a pledge to stand up for Tibet and called for Global Diplomatic Intervention to resolve the current crisis in Tibet.
He stated the visit was long overdue and expressed his appreciation to the courage of Tibetans inside Tibet and the hard-work Tibetans-in-Exile put in to amplify their voices. He also assured to raise the issue of Tibet in the next Indian parliamentary session.
During the meeting he highlighted the urgency for more concerted international actions on the issue of Tibet and the need of keeping the public opinion better informed on Tibet. Moreover, he emphasized the significance of sensitizing the Indian policy makers, the members of Indian parliament which therefore would help put more pressure on the Indian Government to take a more proactive stance on Tibet.
