By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Mar. 16: The Tibetan Parliament in Exile’s budgetary session, also known as the summer session will convene only for a single day in the light of the COVID-19 outbreak that has so far claimed the lives of more than 6600 people across the globe as of Monday.
The Speaker of the House Pema Jungney on Monday said in a video announcement that the ninth session of the 16th TPiE will convene for a single day on Tuesday as supposed to the typical 10-day session.
The single day will see the legislators observe the two resolutions of mourning and a resolution of solidarity with Tibetans inside occupied Tibet, as well as, table the 2020 budget allocations for departments of the exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration.
Jungney told members of the media that following conclusive discussions, it was decided to curtail the session with number of new cases of the COVID-19 rising by the day in India. “By convening the session for a day, we are able to conclude important matters and also ensure that the Charter of the parliament which dictates for a session every six months, is also implemented,” the Speaker said.
The district of Kangra where the exile Tibetan government is based and is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Sunday announced the implementation of Section 144 amid the outbreak of the virus in neighbouring states. Under the law, any gathering of four or more persons is deemed illegal illegal now.
The Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Rakesh Prajapati said the order had been issued following the government order to ban gatherings and closure of all schools and colleges till March 31.
