Mr Ghanshyam Tiwari, deputy leader of the opposition party in Rajasthan assembly, signing Tibet petition/Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Mr Deependra Singh Shekhawat holding the Tibetan flame of of truch torch in Jaipur

JAIPUR: The flame of truth relay in Jaipur received strong support from Speaker of Rajasthan State Assembly and deputy leader of opposition in the Assembly, educationists, students and Indian public.
 
South India leg of Flame of Truth relay, after its successful rally across Gujarat, reached Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan state with rousing reception Tibetans on 14 October.

Mr Karma Yeshi, who is leading the campaign, met Mr Ghanshyam Tiwari, deputy leader of the opposition party in the state assembly. He briefed the Indian leader on the grave situation prevailing inside Tibet and the spate of tragic self-immolations by Tibetans. Mr Tiwari signed the Tibet petition to be submitted to United Nations on 10 December and promised to continue his support in future.
 
On the evening of 14 October, a Tibetan delegation comprising leaders of Tibetan sweater sellers led by MP Karma Yeshi visited Rajasthan’s home minister. The delegation thanked the minister for his continued support to the Tibetan refugees during their seasonal business in Jaipur.  
 
On 16 October, Mr Karma Yeshi addressed around 30 journalists from different media organisations at  the press club. He briefed them on the critical situation inside Tibet, self-immolations by 55 Tibetans in Tibet since February 2009, importance of protection of Tibet’s environment for larger interest of south Asian countries in particular and world at large.

From left to right: Mr Karma Yeshi, Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, showing pictures of self-immolations by Tibetans to reporters during a press conference in Jaipur/Mr Karma Yeshi speaking to students of Rajasthan University in Jaipur during the flame of truth relay campaign in Rajasthan

He also strongly appeal to the world leaders to stand by the Tibetan cause, if non-violence, peace and humanity have any value. He then presented pictures of self-immolations in Tibet and how Tibetans  are being tortured under the brutal Chinese occupation. He also answered many questions from the media.
 
On 17 October, the Tibetan delegation met State Assembly Speaker Mr Deependra Singh Shekhawat, who signed the Tibet petition and expressed his solidarity with the just cause of Tibetans. He also promised to forward a memorandum on Tibet to the External Affairs Ministry of Government of India.
 
Later in the afternoon, Mr Karma Yeshi visited Rajasthan University and delivered a lecture to the students and professor on the issue of Tibet and how Tibetans practice democracy in exile. He also briefed the gathering about the Chinese government’s egregious human rights violations in Tibet which is driving Tibetans to burn themselves to death.  He spoke about the flame of truth relay campaign initiated by Tibetan parliament to seek the international community’s intervention to end China’s rule in Tibet. Later teachers and students signed the Tibet petition. The lecture was chaired by Prof. Preeti Joshi, head of the Public Administration department and Dr. Om Mhela, lecturer of the university. The president of University Students’ Association thanked the Tibetan MP for his talk and gave assurances that Indian students and general public are always with the Tibetan people in their struggle.
 
In the evening Tibetans organised a candle light vigil at Udyog Maidan.
 
On 18 October, the Tibetan delegation led by Mr Karma Yeshi submitted memorandum and Tibet documents to Chief Minister Mr Ashok Gehlot.