Indian MPs lend
support to Dalai Lama's cause
April - May 2007
Dharamsala, March 11 (PTI): A group of 15 Indian Parliamentarians, including former Defence Minister and NDA convenor George Fernandes, on Saturday extended support to the Tibetan freedom struggle.
In his address at the 48th national uprising day organised by the Tibetan Government-in-exile at Tsuglakhang temple here, Fernandes said, "Although years of endeavour may not have achieved any concrete results, the struggle must go on without any letup, until the issue is resolved fully."
"I have always been optimistic on the Tibet issue. And I shall always remain an optimist."
His JD-U colleague Bashishtha Narain Singh, who is also the convenor of the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT), said the Indian Parliament is always in support of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause.
The Congress MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, Pratibha Singh, who is convenor of APIPFT, said the forum has been pivotal in promoting the Tibetan struggle.
In his address, the Dalai Lama said the road to "Hu Jintao's harmonious society must be paved through a society of freedom, justice and equality".
He said the Tibetan administration has been sincerely consistent in its demand for a genuine national regional autonomy which will not only cement and promote Sino-Tibetan relations, but also secure sustenance of the rich culture and language of the minority Tibetans.
The Prime Minister
of the exile Government Samdhong Rinpoche said despite the recent barrage of
derogatory remarks and baseless allegations spewed by some Chinese officials,
the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan administration "Shall remain steadfast in
sincerely carrying forward the dialogue process with China".