Ranchi, January 26, 2013: On Saturday, the Northeast zone Tibetan Parliamentary delegation wrapped the fourth leg of its lobby campaign in Ranchi, Jharkhand – A central-Indian state currently under Indian presidential rule.
During this three-day visit, the Delegation met with, and discussed with the Indian political leaders, the current spate of political and social crises inside Tibet. They also appealed for substantial and public expressions of solidarity and support towards the Tibetan cause, and against the crackdown in Tibet by the Chinese government.
More significantly, they received assurances from the former and currently serving political leadership in Jharkhand, of support towards the Tibetan cause.
The four-member delegation, led by former Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Pema Jungney, was received by the interim head of state, Governor Dr. Syed Ahmed at Raj Bhavan, on January 24. Here, Ahmed expressed his "love and admiration for the Tibetan spirit," and said that he "will stand by the cause and extend full cooperation towards the needs of the Tibetan leadership."
Following this, they met the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Arjun Munda, who said, "the Government, and people of India will never support the wrongdoings of the Chinese Government." "In today's world, every individual is entitled to freedom and to freely determine one's future," he concluded, as he pledged the support of his party, the Bhartiya Janata Party for the 'All-Party Parliamentary resolution on the Tibet crisis.'
Furthermore, they also met with the former Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, who stated that "the spirit and perseverance of the Tibetan people towards the struggle has made it impossible for Indian people to disassociate with the cause." He assured the support of his Jharkhand Mukti Morchan party for the 'All-Party Parliamentary resolution on the Tibet crisis.'
Those who pledged support for the Tibetan cause also included the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Jharkhand, Chandrashekar Prakash Singh, who stated that "no one will dither from supporting the noble cause of Tibet as it is a human crusade against atrocity."
Following these meetings, the Delegation spoke with the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand and current member of Lok Sabha, Babulal Marandi; the state president of Congress party; Member of the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, and the state president of BJP, Dineshanand Goswami, all of whom assured "unyielding support towards the Tibetan freedom movement," and avowed support for the tabling of an "All-Party Parliamentary resolution on the Tibet crisis."
Furthermore, the visting Delegation organized a 'Solidarity Rally,' in collaboration with the Potala Market Association, where 100 participants – a mix of Tibetans and Indians – marched from the Town Hall to Ranchi University campus, to raise awareness, and to show their support towards the Tibetan cause.
The Delegation will now visit Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim and Nagaland to complete the ' All-India lobby campaign.'
