Dharamshala: As per the program of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, a parliamentary delegation consisting of parliamentarians Migyur Dorjee and Pema Tso began their periodical visitation program to Norgyeling Tibetan settlement of Bhandara in Maharashtra, Phendeling Tibetan settlement of Mainpat in Chhattisgarh, and Tibetan sweater sellers in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. They are scheduled to visit aforementioned settlements and places from 19th December 2024 to 4th January 2025.
On 19th December, two parliament members arrived at Nagpur airport from Delhi. Yeshe, the accountant from Bhandara Settlement Office, and driver Rinchen were there to welcome them at the airport.
Organized by Samten Yeshe, an executive member and cyclist for the Bharat Tibet Sahyog Movement (BTSM), a gathering was held at 4:40 PM that day at the Women’s College in Nagpur. The meeting was attended by over 50 people, including BTSM National Advisor Ashok Mendhe, BTSM Maharashtra State President Prof. Vijay Kewalramani, Samta Sainik Dal’s National Director Sunil Sariputta, along with other senior leaders, members, and the college principal and teachers.
During this event, the two parliament members expressed gratitude to the Indian government and people for their continued support and solidarity with Tibetans. They explained how Tibetans, under His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s leadership, have preserved and promoted Buddhism, India’s ancient wisdom tradition, for many centuries. However, since China’s occupation of Tibet in 1959, they described the critical situation where the Chinese Communist government has been implementing policies to eliminate Tibetan religion, culture, language, and identity.
Many Indian Tibet supporters participated in the meeting and emphasized the brotherly relationship between India and Tibet, stating that as an elder brother, India must support its younger brother Tibet during these difficult times under Chinese oppression. They declared they would continue supporting the Tibetan cause until Tibet gains freedom and His Holiness and Tibetans can return to their homeland.
On 20th December, at the Nagpur Tibetan sweater market, they addressed the Tibetan sweater sellers about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s deeds, the work of the Central Tibetan Administration including the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, and explained how the Middle Way Approach is the best policy combining wisdom and method to resolve the Sino-Tibetan conflict. They also emphasized the importance of preserving Tibetan language, culture, and moral values for Tibetans living in free countries, especially given China’s severe restrictions on Tibetan language use in Tibet. After a Q&A session, they departed for Chandrapur, arriving there around 3:30 PM.
