Holding Indian passport or voting card with RC and IC is illegal: Sikyong Sangay

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, Sept 29: Tibetans who have procured either Indian passport or voting card should relinquish their Registration Certificate and Identity Certificate issued to Tibetan refugees by the Indian government as a legal protocol, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay told the Tibetan Parliament today.

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Sikyong Sangay addressing the Tibetan Parliament.

On the final day of the 2nd session of the 16th Tibetan parliament Sikyong Sangay said, “although the decision to apply for Indian passport is a personal choice, Tibetans who have procured either Indian passport or voting card should surrender Registration Certificate (RC) and Identity Certificate (IC).”

“To possess Indian passport or voting card along with the RC and IC issued to Tibetan refugees by the Indian government is illegal,” Sikyong Sangay added.

Though the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) neither objects nor encourages Tibetans to apply for Indian citizenship. But the recent surge of Tibetans applying for Indian citizenship and the subsequent court rulings in favor of the Tibetan petitioners prompted the matter to be discussed in the Tibetan parliament.

The 16th Tibetan parliament concluded its second session today after nine days of passionate debates and deliberations on matters related to situation inside Tibet, status of Tibetans in exile and upcoming projects of CTA.