Tibet.net
The All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet passed resolutions in its second meeting to demand that Bharat Ratna be conferred upon the Dalai Lama and that a joint sitting of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha be addressed by the Buddhist spiritual leader. The resolutions were finalised earlier this month and sent to the government, said officials.
The forum, which has members from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Janata Dal (United), among others, lodged protests against the Chinese government's interference in the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama and stressed that the people of Tibet have a right to decide on the matter, reported The Economic Times.
The 10-member forum includes the BJP's Rajya Sabha member Sushil Modi, Ashok Bajpai, Lahar Singh Siroya and Vinay Dinu Tendulkar, as well as Lok Sabha member Tapir Gao and Rajendra Agrawal.
Arunachal Pradesh MP Gao suggested a big rally by the forum members in support of Tibet to create awareness and draw attention to the issue. "He further suggested that the Dalai Lama address the central hall of the Parliament on topics such as peace and compassion," said the resolution. Kumar, convenor of the forum, told ET, "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."
By Team TRC