Tibetan PM pledges non-violence on Gandhi Jayanti

Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay on Sunday pledged the Central Tibetan Administration's (CTA) commitment to non-violence on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

"Gandhi Jayanti is an auspicious day. Gandhiji is the father of the very successful Indian freedom struggle. His views on morality and ethics still resonate with the consciousness of humankind. Therefore, we Tibetans join in this celebration," he told reporters here.

A brief ceremony was held at the CTA Secretariat to celebrate the occasion where Sangay hoisted the Indian national flag.

"Today is also the international day of non-violence as per a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on June 15, 2007. Following the leadership of Gandhiji, we pledge non-violence as envisioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the Tibet issue," Sangay said.

He outlined non-violence as the key to resolve all conflicts and urged Tibetans to imbibe the messages of peace and positivity to move forward in the struggle.

Taking a jibe at the Chinese government, Sangay said China should restore the fundamental human rights and religious freedom for Tibetans inside Tibet.

China should also exert more effort to resolve the Tibet issue in a peaceful and amicable manner, the democratically elected Prime Minister said.

The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. The Tibetan exile administration is based here.

--IANS

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