Delhi: Tibetans in Delhi geared up this past weekend to organise the Flame of Truth Relay in Delhi. Tibetan community leaders and representatives, including the Tibetan students studying Jawaharlal Nehru University organised signature campaigns and the torch relay as various places.
On Saturday, the flame of Truth relay started in front of the historic Janta Dal (United) office at Jantar Mantar at 10 am. Mrs Usha Yadav, Samajwadi Party; Swami Agnivesh, prominent social movement leader; Dr. Tint Swe, Exiled Burmese Member of Parliament and a close associate of Aung Sung Suu Kyi; Dr. Sunilam, former member of Legislative Assembly, Madhya Pradesh; Mrs Simi Garg, member of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch; Burmese and Nagaland representative showed solidarity and support for the cause.
Mrs Usha Yadav of Samajwadi Party expressed that she and her party will always support the Tibet issue. Swami Agnivesh stressed that Indians should support Tibet cause, which will not only help Tibet, but also India.
Later the torch went through Bangali market, and Major General (retd.) Vinod Seghal came to show his solidarity.
Mr O.P. Kohli, National headquarters Incharge of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the Tibetan contingent at their auditorium within the premises of BJP Office. More than hundred Indian youth wing of BJP also participated in the program.
The relay later reached the residence of Mr Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Member of Parliament and the Chairman, Committee on Petitions, Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister of Uttaranchal. He encouraged the Tibetan delegates that Tibetan issue will be resolved as China’s repressive rule in Tibet is untenable.
Mr Naresh Mathur, a supreme court lawyer, came to show his support for the movement when the relay reached Lodi Garden. He expressed that Tibet question is still pending in the United Nations and the UN must work on it.
In the evening, coinciding with the 72nd birthday commemoration of Late Brij Bhushan Tiwari, who was a close friend of Tibet, the Tibetan delegations participated the program and collected signatures from all the attendees.
In Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Tibetan students hold a candle light vigil inside the campus and had organised signature campaign. Foreign students from different part of the world participated in the program.
On Sunday, the relay covered East of Kailash, JNU, Saket, Delhi Hut, Kalkaji, Adchini and Nizamuddin. In all the places, many Indian prominent leaders and personalities showed solidarity and support. Signature campaigns and distribution of leaflets were held.
Today, more than 500 Tibetans and supporters walked a solidarity march from Samstha Sthal to Jantar Mantar in the morning. After reaching Jantar Mantar, minute of silent was observed to pay respect to the Tibetan patriots inside Tibet and later recited a prayer ‘Word of Truth’. Dr. N. K. Trikha, National Convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause; Mr Surendra Kumar, Secretary of Gandhi Peace Foundation; Mrs Madhuri Sondhi, a well known Tibet Supporter; Mr. Sandeep of Samajwadi Party; Venerable Khedup, representative of Ladakh community; Mr Mandeep Singh, Film maker; Acharya Yeshi Phuntok and Mr Choekyong Wangchuk spoke on the concluding session of the relay in Delhi.
From 6 to 15 October, the flame of truth relay has covered 34 different places inside Delhi, where thousands of signatures were collected. All the Tibetan organisations and offices based in Delhi had participated in the campaign.
