Kerala BJP Vows Continued Support for Tibetan Struggle, Criticises China’s Failed Policies in Tibet

KOZHIKODE, Kerala: The President of BJP Kerala State unit, Shri Kummanam Rajasekharan, has declared firm support for the Tibetan struggle and expressed solidarity with the suffering of Tibetans inside Tibet, in his address at the closing ceremony of ‘Thank you India’ program held in Kozhikode, Kerala on 13 September 2016.

“The Tibetan nation has been deprived of its rightful freedom and dignity for half a century. I am here to express wholehearted support and respect for the Tibetan culture, religion and the peaceful resilience which have been so brutally crushed by the Chinese government,” the BJP President said.

In praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he said, ”His Holiness has been our most honoured guest for over half a century now. He has received hundreds of awards and honours in recognition of his iconic contribution to world peace, non-violence, religious harmony and compassion.”

The President called on the Chinese leadership to stop the on-going cultural genocide in Tibet and to resume peaceful dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness to solve the Tibet issue. He also pledged to raise Tibet issue at the highest levels with the Indian leaders.

Second speaker, Shri R K Khrimey, National Convener of Core group for Tibetan Cause-India addressed the gathering on Tibet’s role in Sino-India relations. “Ever since China annexed Tibet­-the historical buffer between China and India- Tibet has become the core issue in Sino-India relations. The issue of Tibet does not only pertain to Tibetans, but to India as well.

“India and China have met on countless occasions in the last three decades to settle the conflicts over the border. This problem was never settled because there never was India-China border historically. Hence, It is completely in India’s national interest to raise the Tibet issue in its negotiations with Chinese counterparts,” he said.

Concluding his talk, he appealed to the Indian public to study the historical relations of India and Tibet and garner support for the just cause of Tibet.

Director of Tibet Museum, Mr Tashi Phuntsok presented mementos to the chief guest and other speakers at the closing ceremony.

To express gratitude to the People and Government of India for their generous hospitality and continuous support, Central Tibetan Administration initiated a ‘Thank You India’ program in five important cities of India -Sonipat in Haryana, Calicut in Kerala, Nagpur in Maharashtra, Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The three-day program at Kozhikode featured expert talks on Tibet’s role in Sino-India relations, Environment and fragile ecosystem of Tibetan Plateau, a rare photo exhibition on ‘Indo-Tibet Relations’ and ‘Current Situation inside Tibet’, documentary film screening, free medical camp by the Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute and Tibetan cultural performances by college students of Bangalore.

The program was jointly organized by Indo Tibetan Friendship Society (ITFS) Calicut in coordination with the Tibet Museum, Tibet Policy Institute and India Tibet Coordination (ITCO), Central Tibetan Administration.