Bharat Ratna for Dalai Lama: All-party MPs write to Centre; pitch for monk's Parliament speech
NEW DELHI: In a strong show of support for the Tibetan cause, a cross-party forum of MPs has passed a resolution urging the government to confer the Bharat Ratna on the
Dalai Lama
and allow him to address a joint sitting of Parliament -- a move that's likely to irk China once again.
The all-party Indian parliamentary forum for Tibet, which includes MPs from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Janata Dal (United), adopted the resolutions during its second meeting this month. The group had drawn sharp criticism from Beijing following its inaugural sitting in December last year.
Led by BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sujeeth Kumar, the 10-member committee has also launched a signature campaign supporting the Dalai Lama's Bharat Ratna nomination.
'We have initiated a signature campaign to award Bharat Ratna to His Holiness Dalai Lama. Many MPs have come forward and some of them have sent video messages supporting the campaign. We will be writing to the Speaker of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to convene a joint sitting which will be addressed by His Holiness,' Kumar, who is also the convenor of the forum said, according to ET.
Members of the forum, which includes BJP MPs Ashok Bajpai, Lahar Singh Siroya, Vinay Dinu Tendulkar, Tapir Gao and Rajendra Agrawal, strongly opposed China's interference in the spiritual succession of the Tibetan leader.
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They emphasised that the people of Tibet alone have the right to decide on the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama.
Taking the campaign a step further, Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao proposed a mass rally in support of Tibet to raise public awareness.
"He further suggested that the Dalai Lama address the Central Hall of the Parliament on topics such as peace and compassion," stated the resolution.
The forum has also expressed admiration for a recent pro-Tibet bill passed by the US Congress and encouraged similar legislation to be introduced in India's Parliament.
Additionally, members discussed the implementation of the 2014 Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy, urging fellow MPs to visit Tibetan settlements and press local administrations for basic amenities.
"We have requested all the MPs to reach out to the district administration and respective state governments so that land and amenities such as roads, electrification and drinking water are ensured for Tibetan rehabilitation," Kumar added.
As per the 2014 policy guidelines issued by the Union home ministry, state governments are required to lease land occupied by Tibetan refugees for 20 years, issue rent tenancy certificates, and ensure welfare benefits and infrastructure support in settlements.
"The land under the occupation by the Tibetan refugees should not be disturbed and welfare benefits of state government schemes should be extended to them. The state authorities have been advised to extend the infrastructural facilities and basic amenities like roads, electrification, drinking water schemes in or around the Tibetan settlements," said the home ministry's directive.
The forum's assertiveness marks a renewed political engagement with the Tibetan cause -- one that continues to test India's diplomatic balancing act with China.
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