edited by: Oindrila Mukherjee
Last Update: February 23, 2023, 18:15 IST
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, joining the New Year celebrations in the Losar community, said he knows the difficulties Tibetans face as they do not have a country of their own. (Image: News18)
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the central government is ready to consider the demand if rules and regulations need a fresh look to improve the lives of Tibetans.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju hails exiled Tibetan community as ‘ideal refugees’ India There is a need to make significant contributions to their cause. Joining the community at the Tibetan Buddhist New Year Celebrations – Losar, the Law Minister said that he was aware of the difficulties faced by the community as they had no country of their own.
Rijiju said the central government is ready to consider the demand if rules and regulations need a fresh look to improve the lives of Tibetans. He said that welfare schemes should also be extended to the large Tibetan community living in different parts of the country.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs can look into the policies for the welfare of the Tibetan people… We will look at the issues positively,” he said amid thunderous applause at Delhi’s Tibetan settlement Majnu ka Tila.
He said: “Many Tibetans have settled in different parts of the world and many of them have migrated from India. Wherever they live, they always carry Tibetan heritage and never forget their roots. They always Respect the Dalai Lama.”
In comments that angered China, the Union minister from Arunachal Pradesh reiterated India’s commitment to the Dalai Lama. “HH Dalai Lama is an apostle of truth and peace… He is the most endearing personality in the world… We look up to him for guidance,” he said, adding that the spiritual leader’s views are widely respected He went and was accepted all over the world.
China has in the past described the Dalai Lama as a “wolf in monk’s clothing”, a “double dealer” and a “separatist chieftain”, seeking to “separate” the region from the communist nation.
Rijiju further said that the Narendra Modi-led government has refined the Tibetan refugee policy and he is the first Union minister to visit several Tibetan settlements in India. “India is governed by laws, rules and regulations and you live peacefully and respectfully. The people of India believe that the people of India also love you.” He said that there are many similarities between Indian and Tibetan cultures and India is incomplete without the Himalayan region.
RSS leader Indresh Kumar, who is also the patron of Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch, referred to the Tibetan struggle against China without naming Beijing. He said, “The world wants peace but if someone’s rights are taken away, someone’s rights are violated, then it is not possible to have peace,” he said, “No one’s rights should be taken away, It is not only for the Himalayas, not only for Asia but everywhere. Peace is necessary for harmony.
Dolma Gyari, in-charge of security for the Tibetan government, also spoke on the occasion and praised the government for recognizing Tibetans in India.
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