DHARAMSHALA: The Indians living in South India, including prominent citizens, are showing strong support for the flame of truth relay organised by Tibetan Parliament-in-exile to seek UN intervention to end Chinese government’s atrocities against Tibetans in Tibet.

The relay, which kicked off on the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 6 July, had so far travelled to Coimbatore, Pondicherry, and Auroville. It reached Chennai on 10 July.

Mr Karma Yeshi, a member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, who is leading the southern leg of the relay, briefed reporters about the campaign on reaching Chennai. He apprised the media on the spate of self-immolations by Tibetans to protest the Chinese rule and policies posing danger to the environment on the roof of the world.
 
“Many eminent individuals have shown their support towards the cause of Tibet by signing Tibet petition to be submitted to the UN on 10 December. The signatories include TN Seshan, former chief election commissioner, V Bhaskaran, captain of world cup winning hockey team, Padmashree and Arjuna recipient, Thota Tharrani, an IPS officer, W I Davaram, former commissioner of police and academicians,” Karma Yeshi said.
 
He said many Indians are showing their support and genuine concern over the issue of Tibet.

“They urge Tibetans, particularly youths, to continue their struggle for Tibet and devote their efforts on studying modern education and science,” Mr Karma Yeshi said.

“They also expressed their deep concern over the tragic self-immolations in Tibet, saying Tibetans must fight for their basic rights but no Tibetan should give up their lives through self-immolation,” he added.

He met Gopal Krishna Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and briefed him on the issue of Tibet and the present situation inside China’s occupied Tibet. “Mr Gandhi stated that he would pray for what His Holiness the Dalai Lama is praying for,” Mr Karma Yeshi said.

He also visited Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and Lady Andal School and appealed to the students to support the flame of truth relay’s signature campaign.

A delegation of Tibetan college students and Asha Reddy, a long time Tibet supporter, joined Karma Yeshi for a visit to Madras University, where they briefed professor Manu on the critical situation in Tibet. They met teachers at an English language study centre, who interviewed Karma Yeshi about the global relay and volunteered to make an online appeal on youTube.

The relay aims to get 3,00,000 signatures for the petition to be presented to the UN.