Dharamsala: The President of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dr Lobsang Sangay offered condolence over the demise of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India.
The former Prime Minister and the first president of the Bharatiya Janata Party passed away at the age of 93 at AIIMS hospital in New Delhi this evening.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. He was one of the giants in Indian politics and also one of the strongest voices for Tibet,” said Dr Sangay.
The former PM was vocal on Tibet issue as early as in 1959 when the tragedy was unfolding in Tibet, then a leader of the Bharatiya Janasang Party, (BJS), advising then Indian government to
deal firmly with China and that India cannot remain “a silent spectator to the tragedy that is being enacted on the roof of the world.”
In his statement Indian People’s Support For Tibet in Lok Sabha 1960, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had expressed that “From a point of view of national interests, the fact that Tibet is being annihilated cannot be good be good for India in the long run.”
Known for his astute leadership, in 2014, the former PM was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
Filed by Tenzin Lhakmon, Communication Officer, Sikyong’s Office