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Olympic flame reaches Delhi amid protests | Your say
Published on Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 09:02, Updated at Thu, Apr 17, 2008 in Nation section
Tags: Beijing Olympics 2008, Torch Relay , New Delhi
GUARDING THE TORCH: IOA Chief Suresh Kalmadi (R) receives the Olympic torch from a China Olympic Committee official at IGI airport on Thursday.
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New Delhi: Even as pro-Tibet protests gain momentum in Delhi, a special Air China plane carrying the Olympic flame touched down at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1 am on Thursday.
The flame, travelling from Islamabad to New Delhi, was handed over to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Chief Suresh Kalmadi by China Olympic Committee officials, amidst the presence of a huge delegation of IOA officials and security personnel.
However, as the arrival of the torch was being celebrated by traditional Indian dances, Tibetans in exile protested outside the airport.
Police arrested nearly 50 protesting Tibetans from Dhaula Kuan area of the capital during the early hours of Thursday.
At midnight, people from the Tibetan Youth Congress charged down the route on which the torch was supposed to travel.
Around 20 protestors from Students for Free Tibet group tried to breach security cordon at the Le Meridian.
Meanwhile, the authorities are busy sprucing up the security arrangements for the torch relay.
Rajpath is being turned into a virtual fortress for the 2.3-km Olympic torch run.
The government has decided to implement a three-layer security ring for the run and Rajpath will be sealed for six hours starting 1 pm.
Security at the Chinese embassy in Chanakyapuri has also been stepped up after about 60 people attempted to storm inside.
Speaking on Wednesday, the new Sports Minister M S Gill said there will be no repeat of the scenes from London and Paris.
"I’m sure the government will ensure that the security cover during the torch relay is up to mark,” Gill assured.
The relay is expected to see 70 celebrities, including 47 sports persons.
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Total Comments: 11
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I am ashamed at the way the government of india has reacted. I feel betrayed about us having sold out
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China has time and again reminded the world of how the Olympics is about sports and not politics, however, the
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I think government should have decalred a holiday in Delhi and imposed 24 hours curfew so that people don't come
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Olympics is a sporting event. It is unfair on the part of the Tibetans in India to disrupt the torch
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India should appease China as china is as much a threat to India as pakistan. Let the non violent tibetants
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