Support Tibetians Please

Joint Press Statement on Tibet by Shri L K Advani, Shri Rajnath Singh and Shri Jaswant Singh:

The BJP has noted with serious concern the recent developments in Tibet. The use of indiscriminate violence by the Chinese armed forces to forcibly crush the voice of the people of Tibet is a serious development. The entire global community has begun to voice its apprehension about the manner in which force is being used against the protestors.

The anguish and suffering of Tibet and its people, eloquently expressed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in pain imbued words, is a call to the conscience of all humanity.

In this context, it is indeed shameful to note that the Government of India, instead of expressing concern against the use of force by the Chinese government, is adopting a degrading policy of blatant appeasement towards China with scant regard to the country's national honor and foreign policy independence. Reports suggest that the Government of India has cancelled a proposed call by the Vice President of India on His Holiness when he is expected to visit Delhi in the near future. Why is the government adopting such a nationally humiliating and pusillanimous policy full of indecision at the cost of neglecting the country's prestige? The BJP condemns this and expects the UPA to candidly explain to the country the rationale behind this policy of irrationality.

The illuminating thought and person of Lord Buddha, born in India and finding enlightenment here, has lent a unique kinship to the relations between India and Tibet. For centuries these relations are entirely spiritual in content and practice. Tibet is one of the important and last surviving repositories of the great thought and teachings of Lord Buddha and has for at least the last 13 centuries been the custodian of an important school of Buddhist thought. India cannot and must not disconnect with this invaluable and indeed unique spiritual linkage.

India must give voice to its concerns; correctly, unequivocally and unambiguously. This is not any interference. It is standing up, by India, for preserving that which is our own, and that which is India's contribution to all humanity – Tibet's Buddhist culture and civilization. This is our bounden duty and our very "Dharma".

Let us not forget that the "Chakra"which adorns independent India's flag, on cloth or engraved on stone is a Buddhist symbol of the "Dharma Chakra". How can we adopt the symbol but ignore the reality?