India: VIPs Ask China to Stop Persecuting Falun Gong Practitioners

On 7 May 2003, a historic event took place at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, India. A group of Indian VIPs met to discuss the best way to stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. They established a network to promote the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners and this network now includes MPs, academics, leaders of religous groups and leaders of NGOs.

At the event speeches were given by Lord Thurlow, a distinguished diplomat; Dr V P Vaidik, the chairman of the Council for Indian Foreign Policy; Professor Anand Kumar; and Gurpreet Jauhal, a Falun Gong practitioner.

A speech by Lord Thurlow	Dr Vaidik speaking
Professor Anand Kumar speaking	Gurpreet Jauhal and Rev Dr Donald HR Souza from the Catholic Bishops conference of India

There was also a photo exhibition which showed the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The event was attended by reporters from a TV station, with over 100 million viewers; and reporters from two of the largest circulation newspapers.

The Indian VIPs could not understand why the Jiang Zemin regime was persecuting Falun Gong and they were shocked at the cruelty of the persecution. In India a wide range of spiritual beliefs are practised and the Government does not feel that they are any threat to its stability.