Camp: New Delhi 110 001

July 31 ,1998

To:
Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee
Hon´ble Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister´s Secretariat
North Block
NEW DELHI .

Hon'ble Sir,

Sub: Necessity for the continuance of prohibitory ban imposed on Tai Situ Rinpoche of Sherabling, Himachal Pradesh.

We, the citizens of India hailing from the State of Sikkim, have come down to the nation´s capital to stage a peaceful Dharana against any move by the Central Government to revoke the prohibitory ban imposed on Tai Situ Rinpoche, a pro-Chinese Tibetan monk of Sherabling, Himachal Pradesh, for reasons more succinctly narrated hereunder. It may be kindly recalled that following a series of ¨anti India¨activities of Tai Situ Rinpoche in 1992-94 the Union Home Ministry vide its Warning Circular No.28/94 dated August 02,1994 prohibited the entry to India of the said Tai Situ Rinpoche. A copy of the said Circular prohibiting his entry is enclosed herewith for your ready reference. Ever since the ban came into force, Tai Situ Rinpoche is abroad, travelling from country to country, raising and sending money illegally to his agents in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh to carry on the systematic ¨anti-India¨ activities which are indeed very subtle and clandestine.

While we are here in the capital staging a peaceful Dharana, we deem it most appropriate to address this representation to you with the sole intention of drawing the attention of the Central Government to the possible consequences likely to ensue from any move to revoke the prohibitory ban imposed on Tai Situ Rinpoche. As citizens of India, it is our foremost duty to protect the nation from alien enemies whose activities are patently deterimental to the security and integrity of our Republic.

We have learnt from reliable sources that Mr. Jethmalani, the Union Minister for Urban Development, has put foward a proposal to the Government strongly advocating the revocation of the prohibitory ban imposed on Tai Situ Rinpoche on August 2, 1994. We are aware that Tai Situ has been Mr. Jethmalani´s client since 1993. However, the lawyer-client relationship ought not to be a valid and justifiable ground for Mr. Jethmalani´s over ambitious zeal to have the ban on his client revoked by the Central Government. It would appear that Situ Rinpoche and persons of like character and antecedents can influence any Minister of the Union Government and transgress or subvert the laws of India.

To be precise, the prohibitory ban on Tai Situ must continue for reasons which are briefly narrated as under:

(a) His numerous anti-India activities of 1992-94 paved the way for the passing of the prohibitory ban dated 2.8.94.

(b) Situ Rinpoche along with the Taiwanese Minister Chen Li An and former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari of Sikkim were deeply embroiled in the still on-going controversy at the Dharma Chakra Centre, the famous Karmapa Monastery at Rumtek, in the eastern District of Sikkim. Chen Li An went to Sikkim between November 28 and December 4, 1993 as a guest of Situ and Nar Bahadur Bhandari. He made a surreptitious entry into the border State.

(c) Situ has been making every effort to bring in and instal a young Chinese boy from Tibet as the XVIIth. Gyalwa Karmapa at the Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek, Sikkim. The Buddhist population of Sikkim has unanimously opposed this move of Situ Rinpoche who is backed to the hilt by the Chinese authorities in Beijing.

(d) Taiwan´s Chen Li An, deeply asssociated with Situ, has been banned from entering India in he future by the External Affairs Ministry of the Government of India on the basis of an official assesment that he had indulged in ¨objectionable activities¨during his clandestine visit to Sikkim in December, 1993. The ban order preceded a ¨secret note¨(EWA, UO No. C /104/3/92-TB) dated 20.1.94 signed by Director ( China) Ashok K. Khantha and marked to V.S. Aliwadi, Joint Secretary (F) in the Union Home Ministry.

(e) Situ Rinpoche bribed former Chief Minsiter Bhandari of Sikkim who promised the establishment of a pro-Chinese State Government in the tiny state of Sikkim in the November, 1994 Assembly elections. You are aware that China has hitherto refused to recognise Sikkim as an intergal part of India.

(f) Situ indulged in benami land transactions in Gurgaon- Haryana Road, New Delhi in early 1994. He purchased 500 acres of land to float his ¨Chinese International Centre¨. Fortunately, the CBI officials foiled the entire attempts of Situ, and Mr. Jethmalani had failed to defend his client then.

(g) Situ´s men were involved in the criminal activities of trafficking in endangered species´ leather and fur on two occasions in 1992-93 in Delhi and were arrested by the customs officials in the capital. Situ was also involved personally in gold smuggling rackets and arrested twice in Delhi and Calcutta respectively. Such a criminal is certainly not welcome to our country.

(h) Situ has always used his Sherab Ling monsatery in Himachal Pradesh for illegal and anti-India activities. Border States like Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh must be protected against activities of prejudicial nature and specially of alien enemies like Situ Rinpoche. We, therefore feel that the revocation of the ban on Situ will have adverse consequences on the security and integrity of our nation.

(i) Situ´s loyal protege Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche continues to carry on with anti-India activities from within the premises of the Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek, Sikkim which has fallen in the firm grip of the Chinese agents since early August,1993. Though physically not in India since August,1994, Situ´s principal agent in Sikkim is Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche who executes the policies formulated abroad by Situ and Chinese authorities. Therefore, it is not only that the prohibitory ban against Situ should never be lifted, but there are cogent and valid grounds for the immediate expulsion of Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche from the holy premises of the Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek, Sikkim.

We, therefore, entreat and implore upon you and the Hon´ble Home Minister Shri L.K. Advaniji to kindly keep the interests of our nation in heart and take a firm decision reiterating the prohibitory ban imposed on Situ Rinpoche; notwithstanding the pressure exerted by Mr Ram Jethmalani who evidently appears to be more concerned about Situ Rinpoche than we Indians and our nation.

Thanking you in anticipation,

Yours faithfully,

(KARMA GOMPU LAMA)
Ex-M.L.A.

(DUGO BHUTIA)
Ex-M.L.A.

Copy to :
1. Shri L.K. Advani
Hon´ble Union Home Minister
Government of India, New Delhi.

2. Mr. George Fernandes
Hon´ble Union Minister for Defence
South Block, New Delhi.

3. Mr. J.M.C. Balayogi
Hon´ble Speaker
Lok Sabha Secretariat
Parliament House, Nw Delhi.

4. Mr. Ram Jethmalani
Union Minister for Urban Development
Government of India, New Delhi.

5. Mr. Krishna Kant
Hon´ble Chairman
Rajya Sabha Secretariat
Parliament House, New Delhi.

6. Dr. Farooq Abdullah
Hon´ble Chief Minister
Jammu & Kashmir
Srinagar.

7. The Hon´ble Chief Minister
Himachal Pradesh
Shimla.

8. Mr. P.K. Chamling
Hon´ble Chief Minister of Sikkim
Tashi Ling, Gangtok, Sikkim.

9. The Director
Central Bureau of Investigation
C.G.O. Complex, New Delhi

10. The Home Secretary
Ministry of Home Affairs
Government of India
North Block, New Delhi.

11. The Secretary
Ministry of External Affairs
Government of India
South Block, New Delhi.

12. The Press for information and necessary action.