By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, January 26: The Tibetan government in exile (officially known as Central Tibetan Administration) today congratulated the people of India on its 66th Republic Day.
The Tibetan Prime Minister Dr Lobsang Sangay raised the Indian national tricolor in front of the Kashag Secretariat (Tibetan Prime Minister’s Office) at a modest ceremony that was also attended by Tibetan ministers and senior officials of the Tibetan Administration.
Tibetan PM Sangay expressed his pleasure over US President Barack Obama’s India visit as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. “This is a celebration of two largest democracies that we are witnessing today. And it is also fitting because today is the day when India promulgated its constitution in 1950.”
Following the ceremony, Sangay attended the official Republic Day celebrations of Kangra District at the Police Ground in Dharamshala.
Meanwhile, the Tibetan Youth Congress today launched its campaign inspired by Swach Bharat Abhiyan mission of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A brief ceremony to launch the campaign was held at the TCV dayschool. Nyima Gyaltsen, Under Secretary of Department of Health, representatives of various Tibetan NGOs and organizations attended the launch ceremony.
Nyima Gyaltsen said the TYC’s initiative is commendable and thanked the organization. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks about the humanity and importance of clean environment during his world tours, but it would be our shame if the people living here in his exile hometown don’t contribute to its cleanliness,” he said.
Tenzing Jigme, President of Tibetan Youth Congress said, “India is a home to the largest Tibetan population in exile and as Tibetans living in India, we have even a bigger responsibility to keep the surroundings, the environment, the homes, the schools, the monasteries that we live in clean.”
He hoped to educate the masses with the importance of cleanliness through this campaign and “make it a part of our lives and make it a habit”. Regional chapters of Tibetan Youth Congress around India also initiated similar campaigns in their localities.
Indian PM Modi officially launched the Clean India Campaign on Gandhi Jayanti, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on October 2, 2014.
