For Immediate Release
CENTRAL INDIA GREETS TIBETAN FREEDOM TORCH
20 July, Nagpur: Around 35 Indians and Tibetans carried the Tibetan Freedom Torch for the distance of 6 kms starting from Dhiksha Bhumi, the place where Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar took vows of Buddhism, to RBI Square via Lokmat Chok. The relay started at 1:30 pm and the runners reached the destination at 3 pm covering the 6kms route.
Present at the relay were Members of Indo-Tibet Friendship Society, Executive members of the regional chapters of Tibetan Youth Congress and Tibetan Women’s Association from Bandara Tibetan Settlement and other dignitaries.
The Olympics offer a rare opportunity for the Tibetans to shine a spotlight on the Chinese government’s illegal, unjust occupation of Tibet for the past 50 years. It also highlights the importance of Tibet issue and for the Tibetans to show the Chinese leaders that the time has come to heed upon the Tibet problem with seriousness and resolve the matter without further delay.
The Tibetan Freedom Torch symbolizes the hopes and aspirations of the Tibetan people for freedom and justice, and the commitment of people around the world to helping make this dream a reality.
The India leg of the Tibetan Freedom Torch started on the 10 July from Delhi and thereafter traveled to the West and South India covering 8 major cities i.e. Jaipur, Bhopal, Baroda, Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad before reaching Nagpur. The torch will now travel towards North-East India where it goes to major cities such as Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata and Siliguri before travelling its way to the North in Ladakh on the 8th August. We are anticipating good turn out especially in Kolkata, Siliguri and ladakh.
So far Bangalore and Chennai had the biggest turn out of people, around 250 Indians & Tibetans took part in the relays. The Bangalore torch relay started from Banappa Park, Majestic to Gandhi Statue, MG Road covering 3 kms and the Chennai relayed from Monroe Statue, Anna Salai to State Guest House, Wallajah Salai covering almost the same distance as that of Bangalore. Regional TYC and TWA from various south Indian Tibetan settlements along with the heads of different other organizations, students, businessmen and employed youths took part in the Bangalore run. A group of Indian musicians performed live msic and dance at the Gandhi Statue where the run was culminated.
The media interest and the response from general public to the Freedom Torch were amazing in all the regions. It has further enlivened the spirit of Tibetan protest which some media people feel have lost its momentum.
Released by: Core Group for Tibetan Cause in coordination with ITSN
Contact:
Tsering Dorjee, Coordinator, Core group: +91 931 328 2225
Tsering Choedup, Coordinator, ITSN: +91 941 822 1605