[Assam] Singer Zubeen Garg lends voice to Tibet cause

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

        Zubeen lends voice to Tibet cause
    A STAFF REPORTER  TELEGRAPH INDIA                 Zubeen Garg prays at a mock funeral as part of a three-day solidarity meet of Tibetans in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections   Guwahati, April 9: After Icelandic singer Bjork, it is the turn of Bollywood star Zubeen Garg to lend his voice to the Tibetan cause.
   
  The popular Bollywood singer revealed his plans to organise a concert in Mumbai to mobilise support for the Tibetans.
   
   
  Garg attended a symbolic “funeral” organised by the Northeast unit of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee at Digalipukhuri here under the aegis of Tibetan government-in-exile to mourn the “Chinese massacre” in Tibet. The proposed funeral procession, however, was put off as the district administration denied them permission.
   
  The maverick singer was in the midst of a storm in China for chanting “Tibet! Tibet!” at the end of a passionate performance of his song Declare Independence, at a concert in Shanghai recently. 
   
  Garg said he would seek the support of other Bollywood stars to organise the rock concert at Mumbai.
   
  “Soon after my return to Mumbai, I will make an appeal to my Bollywood colleagues to join hands for the Tibetan cause,” he said. 
  The Bollywood’s latest singing sensation is the second popular Indian star after Bhaichung Bhutia to voluntarily come out in support of the Tibetan cause. 
  Garg said he has always been a strong supporter of the Tibetan demand for “genuine autonomy” to preserve and promote their religion, culture and tradition.
   
  The Tibetan community believes that such gesture from “an iconic personality” like Garg would give a boost to their “peaceful solidarity movement” launched to protest as well as to draw the attention of the world towards the “brutal repression” of Tibetans in Tibet by the Chinese government.
   
  Karma Yeshi, a member of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, hailed Garg for his support and said it was a welcome development that more and more Indian icons were coming out in support of their cause.
   
  Tibetans community-in-exile in Northeast has launched a three-day agitation since yesterday to express their solidarity with their brethren back home who have been victimised by a “repressive” Chinese government. 
  As part of the programme, around 500 representatives of the community organised the symbolic rite today in a sombre atmosphere. 
   
  As the effigies, symbolising bodies of those killed in Tibet since the March 10 Chinese crackdown, were brought to the venue of the demonstration at Digalipukhori, the women demonstrators wept.

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