June 19 :
The Dalai Lama, a spiritual leader from Tibet, was visited at his house in Dharamshala by a high-ranking US congressional delegation headed by US Congressman Michael McCaul. Not only that, but the Congressional delegation also included the former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The US representatives were invited to a public felicitation programme at the main Tibetan shrine before their meeting with the Dalai Lama. This morning, devotees of the Dalai Lama were also spotted in the temple grounds.
At the felicitation ceremony held in the courtyard of the Tsuglagkhang Complex in Dharamshala, children showcased Tibetan culture through performances. At today's visit between the two at his Dharamshala house, McCaul gave the Dalai Lama a framed copy of The Resolve Tibet Act, a bill that sought to strengthen US support for Tibet and was enacted by the US Congress in a bipartisan manner.
According to the Dalai Lama's office, once the discussion with the US congressional delegation ended, the Dalai Lama gave Pelosi a statue of the Buddha. Following their discussion, the members of the US Congressional delegation and the Tibetan spiritual leader stood for a group portrait. Members of the Central Tibetan Administration met with the congressional delegation upon their arrival in India on Tuesday at Kangra Airport in Himachal Pradesh.
Just last week, a bill was passed by the US Congress that calls on Beijing to resume talks with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders in order to end their long-running disagreement peacefully regarding Tibet's status and governance. According to Radio Free Asia, the 'Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act,' also known as the 'Resolve Tibet Act,' has been passed by the US House of Representatives and will now be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature in order to become law.
China is urged to "cease its propagation of disinformation about the history of Tibet, the Tibetan people, and Tibetan institutions, including that of the Dalai Lama." The legislation opposes Beijing's claim that Tibet has been part of China since ancient times. Additionally, it emphasised the importance of China initiating discussions regarding Tibet's governance with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders. Since 2010, there have been no official discussions between the two parties. On the other hand, China expressed its "gravely concerned" sentiment over the US delegation's visit to Dharamshala on Tuesday.
"Stop sending the wrong signal to the world," Lin Jian, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, said yesterday during a routine press briefing, urging the United States to acknowledge the Dalai Group's anti-China separatist character. Representing the 14th Dalai Lama, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stated, "It's known by all that he is not a pure religious figure, but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the cloak of religion."
