By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, May 2: The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa along with Indresh Kumar, a prominent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha leader and Gyari Dolma, Home Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration attended a daylong programme on “Indian and Tibetan Buddhists” organised by the Himalaya Pariwar in the Tibetan exile headquarters of Dharamshala earlier today.

Addressing the large gathering of Indian nationals from the Himalayan region and Tibetans, Gyari Dolma said that until Tibet is not safe, the Himalayas will continue to remain in danger.

“If Mt. Kailash is not safe, how can the Himalayas be safe. If Tibet is not safe, how can the Himalayas be safe,” Gyari said in regard with the military danger posed by the heavy militarisation of the Tibetan plateau by China.

Gyari briefed the gathering on the ongoing critical situation inside Tibet and appealed for continued support from the delegates for the Tibetan cause.

Taking a leaf out of history, Indresh Kumar spoke about the peaceful borders that India and Tibet shared for centuries before China “illegally occupied the roof of the world.”

The RSS leader said Tibet was never a part of China and denounced the ongoing violation of basic human rights inside Tibet.

“In 1989, the Chinese government, without any warning, trampled upon their own students with tanks at the Tiananmen Square,” Indresh said. “If they can do such inhuman things to their own students, why not to the Tibetans.”

The 17th Gyalwang Karmpa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, in his address noted the same culture that Tibetans and Indians in the Himalayan regions have historically shared.

“Both Indian Himalayans and Tibetans are part of the great Himalayas and historically we have shared a good relationship,” Karmapa said.

“Since Tibet lost its independence, the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh has kindly hosted exile Tibetan administration and been the second home for many Tibetans,” Gyalwang Karmapa said while acknowledging the hospitality of the state.

Vice Chancellor of the Himachal Pradesh University, A. D. N. Bajpai, and heads of local Tibetan NGOs also attended the daylong congregation.

The Himalaya Pariwar is a regional grassroot organisation aimed at helping the people in the Himalayan Region to overcome the challenges of communalism, regionalism, poverty and unemployment.