|
New Delhi: More than 5000 Tibetans and prominent Indian personalities like George Fernandes, Kiren Rijiju, Ramdas Athavale, Jaya Jaitley, Kirti Azad, Swami Agnivesh and Nafisa Ali held a parallel torch relay, barely a couple of Kilometres from Rajpath - the venue of the main event. The parallel relay, which began at Rajghat at 11 am on Thursday, concluded its around three-kilometre march at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the Capital at around 1.35 pm.
"It is a shame on China - the torch of shame. Because the Beijing Olympic Torch requires over 15,000 policemen for its control and protection. Not only that, the relay has diverted and disrupted the traffic as well. China has killed the spirit of Olympic Games. But look at our torch, it is the torch of truth, freedom, peace and unity," said Tsetan Norbu, member of Tibetan Solidarity Committee, which organised the protests in New Delhi.
While comparing the two events, Norbu said, "We have not invited the participants for our relay. But people from different walks of life have spontaneously participated in the relay. It required no police protection, no traffic disruption. Besides, we have covered a distance of 4 Kilometres, while the Beijing Torch has covered only 2 Kilometres. That shows the difference."
Speaking to Headlines India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Arunachal Pradesh Kiren Rijiju, who has been a great advocate for Tibetans' cause, remarked that the parallel relay was supported by all and it sends a powerful message to world community (justifying Tibetans' fight against Chinese oppression there).
 | | A Tibetan lady monk being arrested at Janpath |
"The Olympic must be held in the right spirit of peace and unity. You can not have Olympic crushing the human rights. It is time now that whole world stood united and put pressure on China," said Rijiju.
Actor-socialite Nafisa Ali, who participated in the parallel torch relay, said, "Our country has been supporting the Tibetans for past 49-years. Being a democratic nation, we should support them. Why should they fight alone? Let the issue be raised between the two countries."
Replying smartly on her playing dual role with Tibetans and the Indian Olympic Association, Nafisa Ali said, "I am a member of the Indian Olympic Association Organisation Committee and an activist, as well. So, I have to be the part of the Beijing Olympic Torch relay as well."
On a stronger note, former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad said, "The Beijing Olympic torch has blood stain of thousands of Tibetans and Buddhist monks. China has massacred them and insulted His Holiness Dalai Lama. Being a cricketer, I am not against sporting events but I am against human rights violation in Tibet by China."
"Games do not teach us how to fight, rather it teaches you to come together. But, I do not support the Olympic Torch relay. The parallel relay was for upholding the rights of the people of Tibet," retorted Azad . | 
Email Story
Write to the editor
Print Story
