Chennai, TN: The Tibetan parliamentary delegation, who continues to advocate for the cause of Tibet in the southern states of India, recently called on the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Sh. Banwarilal Purohit and other personages in Tamil Nadu, after their campaigns in Bangalore and Puducherry, from Nov 11 to 15.
The delegation, comprised of Parliamentarians Mr. Pema Delek, Mr. Migyur Dorjee and Ms. Namgyal Dolkar Lhagyari, has arrived in the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the evening of Nov 10 after their departure from Puducherry the same day early morning. The next evening they met with Mrs. Asha Reddy, a long time supporter of Tibetans and popularly known as Aunty Asha to the Tibetan students in Chennai, a group of Tibetan students and some of the members of the Buddhist Devotional Association of Chennai (BDAC) to discuss logistical arrangement and itinerary for the next three days Tibet-advocacy campaign in the city.
Thereafter, on Nov 12, the delegates called on Sh. Shri. Banwarilal Purohit, Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu in his office at Raj Bhavan (Governor’s Residence). The Hon’ble Governor shared with the Tibetan parliamentary delegates anecdotes of his tenure at Assam as its Governor when His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the state as well as on his in-depth knowledge on the issues of Tibet. He assured the delegates of his continued support and of the Central government as well.
While apprising him on the issues of Tibet to the Governor, the delegation also presented him with the Five-Points appeal of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and other Tibet-related publications. The delegation, in turn, was presented with a souvenir of the state’s famous Thanjavur Temple miniature model.
From Nov 13 to 15, the delegates called on Dr. Nelofer Kafeel, Labour Minister of Tamil Nadu, Justice T. Meenakumari, Chairperson of State Human Rights Commission, Tamil Nadu and Former Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, Dr. C.K.Gandhirajan, IPS, Director General of Police,State Human Rights Commission, Tamil Nadu, Dr.Tamilisai Soundararajan, Tamil Nadu BJP President, Mr. K.S.Narendran, BJP party’s State General Secretary, Swami Vimurtananda of Ramakrishna Math Chennai, founded by Swami Vivekananda, Shri. Pon. Radhakrishnan, Honourable Union Minister of State for Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Shipping and Shri. Vesar Vinayagam, BJP Organisation General Secretary.
Propounding primarily on the five-points appeal of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, the delegation also apprised the respective personages on the human rights and the urgent situation inside Tibet, the essence of Tibetan struggle and aspirations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as well as on the official policies of Central Tibetan Administration etc. They further entreated them to bolster the participation of Indian parliamentarians in the All Party Indian Parliamentarian Forum for Tibet (APFPFT) and to propel assiduously towards the protection of human rights in Tibet while congratulating them on India being elected as the member of United Nations Human Rights Council.
On Nov 13, the delegation had met with members of BDAC over a working-dinner as per the invitation proffered by them and engaged in discussion and exchange of views on Buddhism in length. They expressed their joy over the opportunity of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His visit to Bangalore and the delegates solicited them to continue to maintain the good relation forged between the association and Tibetan Chief Representative Office in Bangalore, as they expressed their gratitude for the warm welcomed accorded to them by the association.
