Thaindian News

Dharamsala, May 16 (IANS) A day after enjoying the Indian Premier League (IPL) match in the picturesque stadium in this Himachal Pradesh town, newly elected Tibetan prime minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay was Monday back to business - to march the Tibetans, both within and outside Tibet, towards a better future.

Sangay, who will assume office in August, Monday visited the office of prime minister to understand the working of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) that is based here.

“I really enjoyed the cricket match between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils and this was for the first time that I have witnessed a live match,” Sangay told IANS.

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president Anurag Thakur had invited Sangay for the match.

“Since I was free Sunday and Anurag personally invited me, I thought I must avail of the opportunity,” Sangay said.

The 42-year-old prime minister-elect, who considers India his second home after Tibet, reached here for the first time May 13 after being elected in the third direct elections for the Kalon Tripa or prime minister that were held March 20.

He will succeed the incumbent, Samdhong Rinpoche, who was chosen twice to the post.

“Today (Monday) I am in office to get first-hand information about the CTA… to understand the issues related to the exiles,” Sangay said.

He is visiting Delhi Tuesday for the BBC’s news programme HARDtalk.

The programme shows interviews of newsmakers and personalities from across the globe.

Sangay polled 55 percent of the votes cast by Tibetans around the world. He defeated diplomats Tenzin Namgyal Tethong and Tashi Wangdi.

He is likely to assume the political functions of elderly spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who announced in March that he wanted to devolve this responsibility to an elected official.

The Dalai Lama will, however, retain his role as spiritual leader.

On reaching Dharamsala, Sangay said he is committed to take the Dalai Lama to his rightful place in the Potala Palace in Lhasa.

He also promised to uphold policies of the Dalai Lama. “We would work towards realisation of his vision of a truly democratic Tibetan society.”

In an election victory message, Sangay, who was once dubbed a “terrorist” by China because of his earlier association with the militant Tibetan Youth Congress, said: “Time has come for all Tibetans to take on greater responsibility.”

Taking note of the arrest and killings of the Tibetans allegedly by the Chinese government, he also asserted: “We are already facing immense challenges including a critical situation in Ngaba and Amdo with Tibetans being killed and arrested by the Chinese government.”

The Dalai Lama has lived in India since 1959 when he fled his homeland after a failed uprising against the Communist rule. His government-in-exile is based here but is not recognised by any country.