DHARAMSHALA, January 18: One of the most recognisable political faces in India, Lalu Prasad Yadav joined an increasing group of Indian leaders in expressing solidarity and support for the Tibetan cause.

The former chief minister of Bihar and former union minister met with a Tibetan Parliamentary delegation currently on a month-long lobbying campaign, seeking international intervention in the ongoing crisis in Tibet.

The four Tibetan MPs were on Wednesday invited for a lunch by Lalu and his wife, former chief minister Rabri Devi, at their residence in the state capital.

Speaking to Phayul, MP Mogru Tenpa, who is also a part of the delegation, said Lalu Prasad Yadav expressed his support for the Tibetan cause and strongly urged the Tibetans to “never stop until Tibetans get their homeland back.”

In Patna, the Tibetan delegation also met with senior ministers of the state Nand Kishore Yadav, minister for Road and Construction and Sukda Panday, minister for Youth and Culture and apprised them on the current situation inside Tibet.

According to Tenpa, the two ministers assured the delegation that they will raise the Tibet issue in the Indian parliament and promised “all possible help” to Tibetans.

Halfway through their lobbying efforts in the Indian state of Bihar, the Tibetan MPs have already met with a number of leaders, including state lawmakers Lal Babu Prasad, vice-president of state BJP; Chitranjan Kumar; Vijay Kumar Sena; Nagandhra Nath; and Arun Kumar Sinha.

Three parliamentary delegations are currently lobbying in different parts of India as part of the exile Tibetan administration’s attempts at garnering wider support for international intervention in the ongoing crisis inside Tibet.

On January 12, Tsering Tashi, 22, became the latest Tibetan to self-immolate in protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Since 2009, as many as 96 known Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.