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PM Modi met Nancy Pelosi on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met the American delegation who had come to meet Tibetan religious leader Dalai Lama. Meanwhile, PM Modi also met former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Many meanings are being explored for this meeting between PM Modi and the American delegation.
In fact, this is the first time that a foreign delegation is raising its voice in support of Tibet from Indian soil. However, Nancy had earlier also visited India in May 2017 to meet the Dalai Lama. However, Nancy Pelosi was not visiting India with any delegation at that time.
In 2017, Nancy Pelosi came to India to meet Tibetan religious leader the Dalai Lama.
Notably, India considers Tibet a part of China and refrains from commenting on it. No information has been received yet whether the visit of the American delegation is official or not.
On Wednesday, the US delegation said that the US will not allow China to interfere in the Dalai Lama’s succession issue. In fact, China wants to install its ‘Dalai Lama’ as the supreme religious leader of Tibet.
The Dalai Lama and Nancy Pelosi met in Dharamshala on Wednesday.
The Dalai Lama met the US delegation on Wednesday
Earlier on Wednesday, the American delegation met religious leader Lagai Lama at Dharamshala. In addition to Nancy Pelosi, the delegation consists of 5 other MPs, including MP Michael McCaul. These MPs belong to both Republican and Democrat parties. The delegation is led by Republican MP Michael McCall.
Michael McCall said a letter was written to him by the Chinese Communist Party this week. In which they were threatened not to come here, but we do not care about their threats. The United States will help make Tibet the powerful force it has always been. The delegation said they are looking for an opportunity for dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government. He hopes that a peaceful solution will be found between Tibet and China.
A bill related to Tibet was passed in the United States on June 12
On June 12, the Resolve Tibet Act, a bill related to Tibet, was passed in America. It is currently pending signature by Joe Biden. The act supports Tibet and favors increased dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama without any conditions.
China threatened America
China’s response to this bill came in April. China said the Dalai Lama is a separatist and the US should recognize his anti-China stance. China has warned that if the US goes back on its old promise not to recognize Zizhang (Tibet) as part of China, China will respond strongly.
China’s stance on Tibet changed after the communist government came to power
The dispute between China and Tibet is age old. China calls Tibet its ‘Xizang’ province. According to China, Tibet has been a part of China since the thirteenth century, so it has rights over Tibet. However, Tibet rejects this claim of China.
In the year 1912, the 13th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, declared Tibet an independent country. At that time China was weak so could not protest. About 40 years later, China occupied Tibet after a communist government came to power.
Because of this government’s expansionist policies, China invaded Tibet in 1950 with thousands of troops. Chinese occupation of Tibet continued for about 8 months.
Finally, in 1951 the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan religious leader, signed a 17-point agreement. After this agreement, Tibet officially became part of China. However, the Dalai Lama does not accept this treaty. He says that the agreement was made under duress.
This picture is from 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled to India after a 14-day pilgrimage.
The Dalai Lama left Tibet and came to India amid the dispute with China
In the meantime, the anger of the Tibetan people against China began to rise. After 1955, violent demonstrations against China began throughout Tibet. During this time the first rebellion took place in which thousands lost their lives. In March 1959, news broke that China was going to take the Dalai Lama hostage. After this, thousands of people gathered outside the Dalai Lama’s palace.
Finally, the Dalai Lama escaped from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and arrived in India disguised as a soldier. Government of India gave them asylum. China did not like this. It is said that this was also a major reason for the Indo-China war of 1962. The Dalai Lama still lives in India. Tibet’s government-in-exile runs from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.
This government is also elected. Tibetan refugees around the world vote in elections. Refugee Tibetans must register to vote. During elections the Tibetan people choose their President who is called ‘Sikyong’. Like India, the term of parliament there is also 5 years. The Tibetan Parliament is headquartered in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.
Only Tibetans with a ‘Green Book’ issued by the ‘Central Tibetan Administration’ have the right to vote and contest elections. This book acts as an identity card.
