By Tsering Dhundup
The Bharat-Tibet Sahayog Manch’s (BTSM) national council meeting China’s aggressive policies in Tibet and expansionist ambitions against India and declared 2025 as ‘Year of Compassion’ honouring Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday.
The meeting held on 3 and 4 August in Sonipat, Haryana had a total of 267 members from 24 states featured the adoption of five resolutions addressing issues concerning Tibet and Sino-Indian relations. Minister of Security of the exile Tibetan government, Gyari Dolma attended the meeting as the chief guest.
During the meeting, BTSM declared the year 2025 as the Karuna Varsh (Year of Compassion), in celebration of the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Recognised globally as a symbol of peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday will be marked by year-long celebrations promoting peace, non-violence, brotherhood, and love. The group acknowledged its commitment to forming a committee to organise these celebrations, engaging communities across India and the world.
MP Indresh Kumar, the patron of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch said that the ongoing sinicisation in Tibet such as the recent closure of the Renounced Ragya Gangjong Sherig Norbuling School in Golog is a clear motive of China to eradicate Tibet and its unique identity. “What kind of humanity is it that China is eradicating Tibetan identity from Tibet, except for a few thousand of them in the rest of the world”. He further stated that “BTSM condemned China’s actions aimed at eliminating the Tibetan race through a systematic campaign of sinicization. BTSM firmly believes that China is engaged in a conspiracy to erase Tibetan culture and identity”, he said.
National working president of BTSM Harjit Singh Grewal stated “We must Keep moving, keep talking about these things, keep making programs, with other groups, and new groups. We will be blessed because our movement is for the injustice faced by Tibetans from China. For the protection of India, we must continue doing it”.
The Bharat-Tibet Sahayog Manch (BTSM) is a pan-Indian Tibet support group that was founded in 1998. Over the past 26 years, BTSM has grown to establish branches across India, becoming one of the largest Tibet support groups in the country. On Wednesday another Indian support group for Tibet, the All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT), was successfully revived. The APIPFT appointed Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha and Member of Parliament from the BJP, as its Convener. Shri Tapir Gao, also a BJP MP, was appointed as the Co-convener in the capital of India New Delhi.
