Lies can’t work: Dalai Lama tells China

The Tibetan spiritual leader, who is here in connection with a meditation workshop, said he was appealing to his “friends” across the world to express concern over Tibet.

Accused by China of “masterminding” the Tibet unrest, the Dalai Lama on Thursday asked Beijing to “accept the reality” as “lies cannot work” in the 21st century.

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The Tibetan spiritual leader, who is here in connection with a meditation workshop, said he was appealing to his “friends” across the world to express concern over Tibet.

“One thing I want to express is that it is the time for the Chinese Government or the officials concerned to accept the reality. That is more important,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

On the other hand, Tibetan organisations in India have appealed to Bollywood actor Aamir Khan to refrain from participating in the Olympic torch relay that will be held in New Delhi on April 17.

Lobhsang, an organizer with Freedom Restoration, one of the several groups campaigning for Tibetan freedom, told the media that the appeal was made to Khan and other celebrities who are expected to join the Olympic torch relay.

Among the prominent personalities likely to join the run are actress Soha Ali Khan, sport star Leander Paes and former policewoman Kiran Bedi.

Lobhsang said they have been requested not to take part in the event to express solidarity with the Tibetan struggle for freedom from China. The Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in August.

While categorically rubbushing China’s claim, Dalai Lama said, “In any case, we are in the 21st century... Our lies cannot work.”

His comments come in the backdrop of persistent accusations by China that he had “masterminded” the recent violence in Tibet despite his denials.

On Saturday, the Dalai Lama will lead a prayer meeting in Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, in memory of all those who have lost their lives during the recent unrest in Tibet.

Meanwhile, The Tibetan exiles, who are agitating against “Chinese atrocities” in Lhasa, on Thursday called off their planned ‘peace march’ to Nathu La pass on the Sino-Indian frontier.

The protesters are already holding an indefinite hunger strike at the Rangpo check post on the Sikkim-West Bengal border.

“We have decided to call off the hunger strike as well as other agitation programmes with effect from today (Thursday) following advice from senior exiled Tibetan leaders,” North-East Tibetan Youth Congress (NETYC) leader Ugen Tsewang said from Rangpo check post.

Protesters, who had gathered at the check post for taking out the ‘peace march’ to protest alleged Chinese atrocities against Tibetan ‘freedom fighters’, have started leaving for their respective destinations in the north-eastern states, Tsewang, the general secretary of the NETYC, said.

“As of now, we have shelved our agitation programmes on Tibet issue... but we will finalise our future course of action after some time,” Tsewang said.

Police officials also confirmed that the Tibetan agitators had called off their indefinite hunger strike.