Blinken sends messages on democratic freedoms to India, China in civil society meet

Delhi (HRNW) The “civil society round-table” discussion that is expected to raise some concerns from the Government of India and a possible protest from China, was Mr. Blinken’s first engagement during his day-long visit to India.

Inter-religious relations, media freedoms, farmers’ protests, love ‘jihad’ violence and minority rights were part of the discussion which visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had with a group of people that included a representative of the Dalai Lama here on Wednesday. The “civil society round-table” discussion that is expected to raise some concerns from the Government of India and a possible protest from China, was Mr. Blinken’s first engagement during his day-long visit to India.

Sources said Tibet was not directly raised during the meeting, but the lack of progress in China’s dialogue on the issue was discussed at the round-table talks, which included Geshe Dorji Damdul, the Delhi-based Director of Tibet House.

Mr. Blinken also met Director of the Bureau of the Dalai Lama in Delhi Ngodup Dongchung separately on Wednesday morning. While representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Authority or “government in exile” have met with U.S. diplomats in the past, the presence of Mr. Damdul in the meeting with Indian civil society with the U.S. Secretary of State in Delhi is a first.