DHARAMSHALA, July 2: The Dharamshala Tibetan Settlement Office today organised a ‘Police Community Workshop’ and a civil society discussion in the exile Tibetan headquarters aimed at fostering friendly inter-community relations.

Diljeet Kumar Thakur, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kangra district addressed the gathering of leaders of the local Indian community and Tibetan organisations.

Civil society representatives and intellectuals were also present to share their thoughts.

“Workshops and meetings within meetings among the Tibetans and Indians are paramount in order to keep the friendship and peaceful coexistence,” Senior Superintendent of Police Diljeet Thakur told the gathering.

Sonam Dorjee, the regional settlement officer in his address cautioned the two communities on China’s attempts at spreading disharmony and discord between the two communities.

“We can confirm that China is sending agents to India to create conflict between Indians and Tibetans,” Sonam Dorjee said. “Indians and Tibetans - both sides must understand that.”

Dorjee also noted that while there were many things the two communities can learn from each other, there were also differences that “sometimes lead to friction and results in challenging situations.”

Ajay Singh Mankotia, president of the Indo-Tibet Friendship Society pointed at the issue of benami land was a reason for friction.

“When buying land for building houses or whatever, do respect the law on the land,” Mankotia, a longtime friend of Tibet said.

In a call for fostering harmonious inter-community relationships, Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay had recently urged Tibetan communities in India to celebrate the upcoming 77th birthday of His Holiness Dalai Lama in a way which would contribute to the friendship between the two communities.

“We are not asking Tibetans to hold extravagant parties. On His Holiness’ birthday, we are calling on Tibetans to celebrate it with the local Indian communities to strengthen our bonds of friendship.”