Tibetan protests reach fever pitch as torch lands

WAIT ENDS: The Olympic torch has landed at the New Delhi airport.

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New Delhi: The Olympic torch has reached India and torchbearers of the Tibetan cause are leaving no stone unturned to make their voices heard, no matter how much the Government tries to stifle them.

On Wednesday morning, a group of 50 protestors gathered outside the Chinese embassy to hold demonstrations, but were quickly packed off by the Delhi Police.

Nonetheless, their plans for Thursday are clear.

A Tibetan Youth Congress member, Dhondup Dirji says, "We will try our best to get as close to the torch as possible. We won't even mind if they shoot us."

The Tibetan Parliament in Exile, however, has distanced itself from any violence or security breach that may happen during the torch relay.

Member Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Youdon Aukatsang says, "We don't want to disrupt the Olympic torch relay. We have organised a parallel run to celebrate the struggle of our people."

With Tibetan protests reaching a feverish pitch hours before the arrival of the Olympic torch in the Capital, several other groups apart from the Tibetans are also joining in the demonstrations adding to the momentum.

Groups like Falun Gong are using this opportunity to highlight the persecution of its members by the Chinese communist party.

Falon Dafa Practioner, Manoj Chahde says, "We have come here to protest against China's authoritarian regime."

With several groups — including Indian students who took out a motor rally outside the Chinese embassy on Wednesday — joining in the protests, it seems the Delhi Police will have a lot on their hands on the big day.

(With inputs from Shreya Dhondiyal in New Delhi)