Assam : In continuation with the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation to India’s North-Eastern region, Parliamentarians Mr. Pema Jungney and Ven. Kunga Sotop called upon various leaders and law-makers of the state to apprise them on the Tibet’s issue and garner support for the same from July 23 to 27.
The delegation met with Sh. Ganga Prasad, Governor of Meghalaya, to whom they apprised on the critical situation inside Tibet and was responded with his solidarity on the same. They also called upon Sh. James Sangma, Home Minister of Meghalaya to apprise him on the urgent situations inside Tibet, who conveyed his relentless support and solidarity to Tibet’s issue and cause.
Thereafter, upon meeting Mr. Donkupur D. Roy, Speaker of Meghalaya, the Tibetan parliamentary delegation discussed vigorously over the issue of Tibet and also apprised the Hon’bl Speaker on the possibility of establishing state’s parliamentarians forum for Tibet in the state itself, to which he said that the aforementioned matter could be taken into consideration if written appeal on the same is submitted.
They, then, met with Mr. Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, with whom the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation apprised the same matters concerning Tibet’s issues and the urgent situations inside Tibet as well as on the establishment of state’s parliamentarians’ forum for Tibet in the state itself. They also met with Mr. Sanbor Shullai, MLA, Meghalaya, with whom matters concerning the aforementioned issues were also discussed.
Subsequently, they approached Mr. Lahkmen Rymbui, Education and Forest Minister of Meghalaya and deliberated on the issues concerning Tibet.
They also met with Sh. Timothy D. Shira, Deputy Speaker of Meghalaya and deliberated on the issues of Tibet and apprised him on the probability of establishing state’s parliamentarians’ forum for Tibet, when asked what he could do. To which, the Deputy Speaker replied that the matter has been taken to the Chief Minister of the state and as such, the matter would be effected as per his direction.
The delegation had also met with Sh. A.L. Hek, Health Minister of Meghalaya and while intimating the minister on Tibet’s issues and Tibetan administration in exile, he expressed his amazement saying, ‘I didn’t knew about such existence in exile at all.’
Thereafter, the delegation met with Sh. H.M. Shangpliang (IAS) and MLA of Meghalaya, with whom also, matters and issues concerning Tibet were deliberated actively.
On July 26, they met with Smt. Bhandana Deori (IAS), Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), Shillong Zone, Shillong over a working-dinner and engaged in discussion over Tibet’s issues and cause, along with the Editor of Shillong Times, who accompanied the Commissioner.
Upon approaching the residence of Sh. Charles Pyngrpe, who was the Former Speaker and the incumbent Chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and also a member of legislative assembly, Meghalaya, the delegation was introduced to Sh. David N. Nongurm, son of Sh. Charles Pyngrpe, who is also a member of the state’s legislative assembly. Present there was also Smt. Joplin S. Shylla, President of Meghalaya Mahila Congress. The Tibetan Parliamentary delegation engaged in vigorous discussion over Tibet’s issue with them.
The delegation also met with members of the Public Accounts Committee at their office, upon the arrangement made by its Chairman Sh. Charles Pyngrpe. They discussed over issues and matters concerning Tibet and apprised them over the possibility of establishing state’s parliamentarians’ forum for Tibet. They acknowledged the proposition by stating that discussion over the matter could be possible if the Tibetan parliamentary delegation submits a written appeal over the same. They also met with Sh. Hameltson Dohling, Urban Affair Minister of Meghalaya and apprised him over the same matters.
In the evening of July 27, the delegation met with Sh. Yeshi Tsering (IAS), Chief Secretary of Meghalaya government over a working-dinner at his residence.
The next day, members of governmental and non-governmental organizations organized a lunch-gathering on behalf of the Tibetan public in Shillong and thereby, concluding the Tibet advocacy campaign at Meghalaya.
Thereafter, the delegation set out for Guwahati. There, the delegation met with Sh. Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam and upon discussing Tibet’s issues, he provided various suggestions and answers to the questions by the delegation.
They, then, met Sh. Dwijen Sharma, former MP, Vice President and Senior Spokesperson of Assam Congress Committee, with whom the delegation apprised him on the Tibet advocacy campaign and assured his compliance upon the request made to establish state’s parliamentarians’ forum for Tibet.
They also called upon Sh. Hitendra Nath Goswami, Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly and intimated him on the earlier Tibet advocacy campaign conducted in 2013 and the ongoing campaign as well as on the overall circumstance inside Tibet. The delegation also discussed with him regarding the establishment of state’s parliamentarians’ forum for Tibet. He assured them of his solidarity with the Tibet’s cause and offered to render necessary propositions on the establishment of the state’s parliamentarians’ forum for Tibet.
The ongoing Tibet advocacy for Tibet though earmarked for the seven states, only three states could be covered. Yet within those three states, the Tibetan parliamentary delegation has met Governors, Chief Ministers, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respective Ministers, incumbent and former members of both the centre and state legislative assembly and the concerned civil authorities of the each three states. For instance, when the critical protest-rally against the Tibetan residents arose, the delegation along with the concerned Tibetan settlement officers called upon all the concerned authorities and leaders for its resolution and were successfully reciprocated with assurance of its resolution and the welfare of the local Tibetan residents. The Monpa communities of the sate also condemned the student organization’s protest-rally, both verbally and in written statement.
