Arrived in Delhi after 8 hour flight from London. Turns out today is national Mahatma Gandhi day in India! This evening we board an overnight train to Pathankot in northern India (and then continue onto Dharamsala). However we have already had our first meetings.
The delegation met with the Dalai Lama’s Representative in Delhi, Tempa Tsering, who welcomed the MPs and the delegation to India and presented everyone with khatags (Tibetan ceremonial scarves).
Tempa Tsering said that the relationship the Tibetan government in exile has with Britain is probably the closest it has with any country bar India, given the shared history, treaties and more recently its friendship. Mr Tsering said that Tibetans respected the British values of ‘seeking truth and supporting justice’.
The group also met with Deputy High Commissioner for the UK Julian Evans and Simon Sharp, Political Officer from the High Commission. Both Julian and Simon answered questions about the work of the Delhi office and its relations with the Tibetan government in exile.
Group update: Sadly, Malcolm Wicks had to withdraw from the trip the day before we set off, due to personal reasons. Simon Hughes will be joining us in Dharamsala.
Now we are preparing for our train journey and tomorrow Dharamsala!
