Several political parties barring the Left today expressed concern in Parliament over the cultural genocide being perpetrated by China in Tibetan capital Lhasa.
New Delhi, Mar.17 : Several political parties barring the Left today expressed concern in Parliament over the "cultural genocide" being perpetrated by China in Tibetan capital Lhasa.
Bharatiya Janata Party, Biju Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal members called on the UPA Government to seek an immediate intervention by the United Nations on the issue before walking out of the House.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee expressed the Government's distress over the "unsettled situation and violence" in Tibet and wanted the causes of trouble in the autonomous region of China to be resolved through dialogue and non-violent means.
He informed the House that the government had already issued a statement in this regard.
Raising the issue in Zero Hour, BJP's V K Malhotra alleged that Tibetans were being "massacred" in Lhasa and China was trying to "culturally finish Tibet", even when the Dalai Lama is saying he wanted autonomy and not separation from China.
The Samajwadi Party's Ramjilal Suman urged the government to inform the House about its stand on the 'violation of human rights' in Tibet, BJP's Adityanath claimed if China was not stopped now, it would "annex Nepal and then the Northeastern states."
B Mahtab of the BJP wanted the government to protest the "ethnic cleansing and tell China to exercise restraint and stop cultural genocide."
The discussions in the Indian Parliament came even as China said on Monday it had shown great restraint in the face of violent protests by Tibetans.
It said these agitations were orchestrated by followers of the Dalai Lama with the aim of wrecking preparations for the Beijing Olympics in August.
The Governor of Tibet said no guns were used against protesters in Lhasa, but news reports confirmed that troops are being sent to neighbouring areas to end violent ethnic Tibetan protests.
The impact of the midnight deadline for protesters to give themselves up or face tougher punishment is awaited.
In Delhi, China's Ambassador to India is due to address a press conference on the issue this evening.
ANI