Chinese embassy tells Indian MPs to “refrain from providing support to ‘Tibetan independence’ forces”
DHARAMSALA, 31 Dec: The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi has written to some Indian parliamentarians calling on them to “refrain from providing support to the ‘Tibetan independence forces, and make contributions to China-India bilateral relations.
“I have noticed that you have attended an activity held by the so-called ‘All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet’ and interact(ed) with some members of so-called ‘Tibetan Parliament in Exile’. I would like to express our concern on that,” read a letter written by Zhou Yongsheng, Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in India to six Indian MPs who attended the meeting.
“As is known to all, the so-called ‘Tibetan Government in-exile’ is an out-and-out separatist political group and an illegal organization completely in violation of China’s Constitution and laws. It is not recognized by any country in the world,” the Chinese Embassy argued.
“You are a senior politician who know(s) the China-India relations well. It is hoped that you could understand the sensitivity of the issue and refrain from providing support to the ‘Tibetan independence’ forces, and make contributions to China-India bilateral relations,” it added.
The meeting held last week in the Indian capital was attended by Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and Manish Tewari, BJD’s Sujeet Kumar, BJP’s Maneka Gandhi and K.C. Ramamurthy and Minister of State for Skill Development, Electronics & Technology Rajeev Chandrashekhar.
“All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT) dates back to 1971 and it was successfully revived on Wednesday, last week after the Tibetan Parliamentary delegation’s steadfast lobbying for many days” with the appointment of Shri Sujeet Kumar, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Raj Sabha from Odisha as the Convener of the Forum.
Parliament members were outraged by the letter from the Chinese embassy, reports the Hindu.
The report further cited an MP on the conditionion of anonymity and stated that “the participants had taken their political parties on board and that they did not attend the meeting unilaterally and argued that Chinese embassy often sends letters to politicians expressing opinion on issues that are important to Beijing.”
Meanwhile, The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPIE) has concluded its ten-day Tibet advocacy campaign in New Delhi on Thursday.
During the course of the campaign, the delegation, comprising of Parliamentarians Serta Tsultrim, Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende, Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar, Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen, and Choedak Gyatso has reached out to as many as 39 Indian politicians and MPs from major political Indian parties, as well as 9 foreign ambassadors and officials, the TPIE said.
