Local polls to halt Uma's Tibetan march

April 15, 2008: Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party chief Uma Bharti's proposed march to the Indo-Tibet border on April 15 to express solidarity with Tibetans could get stalled due to the forthcoming municipal polls in Uttarakhand and inner line restrictions. Although a large number of Bhartiya Jan Shakti Party workers have started arriving at Joshimath from several north Indian states, the Chamoli district administration is determined not to let Bharti address a public rally on Tuesday before proceeding to the Indo-Tibet border.

The outspoken leader's plan to march to the Malari border with nearly 5,000 supporters and even try and enter Tibet could also get grounded due to inner line permit restrictions in the area. Bharti who is stationed at Kalimath in Uttarakhand these days is scheduled to arrive at Joshimath on Monday evening and address a rally on Tuesday morning before proceeding to the Malari border.

Although the party claims to have faxed a letter to Chief Secretary S.K.

Das seeking permission for the rally and the march, the district administration appears to be in no mood to allow both the programmes. According to reports, the Chamoli district authorities are planning to prevent Bharti from addressing the rally at Joshimath in view of the poll code of conduct for the municipal polls scheduled on April 19.

Bharti's close associates say that she decided to start the march with the dual objective of supporting the cause for an independent Tibet and also to protect Indian territories from Chinese incursions. "The policies of the National Democratic Alliance and UPA governments have emboldened China to claim Arunachal Pradesh as their territory soon they would demand parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh too.

Through our march we want to highlight this issue as well," said Vikas Pant, national president of BJSP's youth wing told Hindustan Times.