Dharamshala: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of the Central Tibetan Administration Monday, September 23 sent his heartfelt condolences to Mrs Urmila Singh over the sad demise of her husband, Shri Mohan Singh, a staunch Tibet supporter and a long-time friend of the Tibetan people.
"We are saddened to hear about the passing away of Shri. Mohan Singh. With his passing away, we not only lost a very true friend but also a great parliamentarian – a man of high principles. He will be remembered by Tibetans for his unflinching support in the most trying of circumstances," the Sikyong said in his condolence message.
"This sad news has been conveyed to His Holiness the Dalai Lama who has also expressed his sadness and has offered his prayers," he said.
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay also highlighted Shri Mohan Singh's strong support and contribution towards the Tibetan struggle. He said, "Shri Mohan Singh has been a long time friend of Tibet. He played a vital role in the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPT) as its Convenor and helped raise the profile of Tibet in the Indian Parliament and other international platforms."
"I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to you and your daughters in this difficult moment," the Sikyong said.
The Tibetan Parliament in Exile on Monday, Sptember 23 passed a resolution mourning the death of Indian legislator Mohan Singh. The parliament has expressed sorrow and grief over the sad demise of a long time Tibet supporter and a good friend of the Tibetan people.
He was a senior member of Indian Parliament and leader of Samajwadi Party, who has unflinchingly advocated the cause of Tibet in the Indian Parliament and other international forums over the past many decades, has passed away.
Mr Singh breathed his last at AIIMS in Delhi on Sunday after prolonged battle with cancer. He was 68. On hearing the sad news, we met Mr Singh's family members to express our prayers and heartfelt condolences, said a senior official at the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Delhi.
He played a vital role in the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPT), which has consistently raised the issue of Tibet in the Indian Parliament and other international platforms since its inception in 1970s. The APIPT supported dialogue process between His Holiness the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese leadership to resolve the problem of Tibet.
During his efficient tenure of Convenor of APIPT, His Holiness the Dalai Lama honoured us by delivering a speech to the Parliamentarians in Parliament House Annexe which witnessed participation from 110 senior Parliamentarians including Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who later became prime minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, the current Convenor of APIPT and former cabinet minister, had said.
The first World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet (WPCT) was held in Delhi in 1994 after Mr Mohan Singh took over the responsibility of APIPT's Convenor. He took part in the second WPCT in Lithuania in 1995.
Mr Singh was appointed as one of co-convenors following the reconstitution of the APIPT in May 2002. He visited Dharamsala to express his solidarity with the Tibetan people in March 2008 when the Chinese government cracked down on the widespread protests by Tibetans inside Tibet.
Addressing a press conference at the time, he said: "Any struggle for human rights preservation is a matter for the whole humanity." He said he supported the statement made by India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to US that the Chinese government should start dialogue to resolve the issue of Tibet.
