Dharamshala: - The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) greeted India on its 66th Republic day and wished continued peace and prosperity to all.
Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leder of Tibetans hoisted the Indian National flag at a brief ceremony held Sunday morning at the Kashag (cabinet) secretariat.
Dr Sangay thanked the government and people of India for hosting the Tibetan community for the last more than 50 years. According to media reports, over 100,000 Tibetans live in India.
Members of the Kashag and other senior Tibetan officials attended the brief ceremony today to mark India's 65th Republic Day.
"On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration, I wish the government and people of India a very hearty congratulation in observing and celebrating its 66th Republic day," Dr Lobsang Sangay said while expressing his warm greetings and best wishes to the people of India on the occasion of Republic Day, 2015.
"I am very happy to see that the President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama, is here in India to take part and be the Chief Guest of the Republic Day celebrations," he told reporters, responding to a question regarding the visit of US President Barack Obama to India.
"Since America and India are the two largest democracies of the world, it's a celebration of democracy that we are witnessing today. It's also fitting because today is the day that India promulgated its constitution in 1950, so the President of the United States to come here on this day is a reflection of renewed energy in their bilateral engagement. As a Tibetan, I welcome and celebrate the get together of these two great nations," Sikyong added.
Sikyong also attended an official ceremony hosted by the local Indian Administration, Lower Dharamshala. He visited the War Memorial along with the Minister to pay respects to the Indian martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for their country.
The biggest of the celebrations was held at the Rajpath where the country's military might and cultural diversity will be on full display as part of the Republic Day parade.
'Obama is the first US president to have been conferred the honour as the chief guest. He was invited to be the chief guest at the parade by Prime Minister Modi - the invitation is considered as one of the biggest honours India can bestow on a foreign leader,' according to media reported.
India celebrates 26 January as the republic day as the constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950. The Constitution was passed by the Constituent Assembly of India on 26 November 1949 but was adopted on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition toward becoming an independent republic. India achieved Independence from British rule on 15 August 1947.
