Tibetans living in exile in India are demanding more rights and Indian citizenship after decades of living in the south Asian country.

Tibetan exiles are demanding a right to vote and also contest elections in the country. The community also wants their spiritual leader Dalai Lama to speak in the national parliament. At present, the community members have the status of foreigners in India.

The demands were raised in a four-day special general meeting that was organised by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The demands would be a part of the resolution that is likely to be passed on Friday, according to reports. More than 400 Tibetan participants have gathered for the meet from around the world.

Sonam Dorjee, a member of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said that the rights will strengthen their campaign for a free Tibet. He said that after getting citizenship and voting rights in the country, the Tibetan community will be able to lobby the India government to take the issue if Tibet with the Chinese government.

“We want Indian citizenship just like the US and Switzerland provides citizenship in their country. We will be taken seriously by political parties and the ruling government only when we become vote banks,” he said.