NEW DELHI: As Tibetan people and their supporters commemorate the 54th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising across the world on 10th March 2013, all Tibet support groups (TSGs) in India organised a national public rally in support of Tibetan cause and voice their concern about the present critical situation inside Tibet.  About two thousand volunteers of various TSGs across India participated in this rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

The rally started with interfaith prayer of peace by Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist monks and observed a minute’s mourning in tribute to all those Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet.

Dr. N.K.Trikha, National Convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause, welcomed the protesters and raised concern over the deteriorating situation inside Tibet. To the Chinese government, he said signalled that the Indian people had been and will always stand in solidarity with Tibet.

Prominent Indian leaders from different political party address the rally. Mr Sharad Yadav, President of Janta Dal United, requested the Tibetan brothers and sisters not to continue the self immolation. He specifically urged the Nepalese government to uphold the international human rights and treat Tibetan with dignity and compassion.

Mr Indresh Kumar, Patron of BTSM, in his speech requested the Chinese government to address the Tibetan aspiration genuinely. Youth leaders and representatives from a large section of political parties representing BJP, JDU, Samajwadi Party, Lok Jan Shakti Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Rashtriya Janata Dal and students groups like ABVP, Yuva Morcha and Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha also spoke on the day.

This all India rally is of special significance this year for two reasons. It was 100 years ago in 1913 when Tibetan people overthrew the 4-year long occupation (1909-1913) of Tibet by the Machu regime of China and the 13th Dalai Lama, the ruler and supreme spiritual leader of Tibet, re-established Tibet as an independent and sovereign nation. Also serious deterioration of human rights situation inside Chinese occupied Tibet has so far lead to 107 self immolations by Tibetans against Chinese colonial occupation of their country.

This rally was organised to draw the attention of world community in general and the Government of India and United Nations in particular to give serious attention to the present sad status of human rights inside Tibet.

This rally is being coordinated by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause (CGTC) which is the umbrella organisation of all TSGs in India. These organisations include Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch (BTSM), Bharat Tibbat Maitryi Sangh (ITFS), Himalaya Parivar, Friends of Tibet (FOT), Himalayan Committee for Action on Tibet (HIMCAT), Antarrashtriya Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Samiti, Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), Youth Liberation Front of Tibet (YLFT), Ladakh Buddhist Association, National Campaign for Tibetan Supports, Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), etc.

Another group of about 600 Tibetans joined the rally after offering their prayers at Raj Ghat.