Dharamshala: - Kalon Tripa (Chairman) of the Central Tibetan Administration, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche on Friday sent a message (letter) of sympathy and condolences to the chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh over the death of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a recent helicopter accident.
According to the official media 'Tibet Net', the 'Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has mourned the sad demise of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who perished in a recent helicopter crash.'
"My colleagues in the Kashag join me in mourning the tragic demise of Mr Dorjee Khandu, the Honourable Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. We offer our deepest condolence to all the late chief minister's family members," Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche said in a condolence message sent to the state chief secretary.
"Mr. Dorjee Khandu's tragic death is a huge loss for not only the people of Arunachal Pradesh but also for the people of India. During his tenure as the chief minister, Mr Dorjee Khandu brought immense development to Arunachal Pradesh and vastly improved the quality of life enjoyed by the people of the state.
"We Tibetans will particularly remain grateful to the late chief minister Dorjee Khandu for contributing to improving the lives of the Tibetan refugees in the state and ushering harmony between the Tibetan refugees and the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
"In the tragic death of Mr. Dorjee Khandu, the people of Arunachal Pradesh lost an outstanding Chief Minister and for Tibetans, a dear friend," Kalon Tripa said in the condolence message.
In May 2008, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khando personally visited Dharamsala and extended formal invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to inaugurate a multi-speciality hospital at Tawang.
During his meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche in Dharamsala, the chief minister expressed solidarity with the people of Tibet and the Tibetan Central Tibetan Administration. The Kashag hosted a luncheon reception in honour of the chief minister's visit to Dharamsala.
At the invitation of chief minister Dorjee Khandu, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Tawang, Dirang and Bombila in Arunachal Pradesh from 8 - 15 November 2009.
The chief minister is also one of the sponsors for the 32nd Kalachakra teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be held in Sarnath from 1 - 10 January 2012.
