Uma Bharati arrested on Indo-Tibet Border; released later

New Delhi, Apr 15 (UNI) Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janashakti Party leader Uma Bharati was today arrested at the Indo-Tibet border while trying to enter the autonomus region of China in support of the people of Tibet fighting Chinese ''repression''.

Ms Bharati, who took out a yatra from Joshimath to the border via Tapovan and Malari to protest against the Indian Government's policy on the Tibet issue at around 1100 hrs, was detained at Jumma village, on the fringe of the the border by the police. She was booked under crpc 116 and 151 but released soon after, sources said.

When contacted by UNI from Delhi, Ms Bharati admitted she was not carrying the passport with valid visa and her agitation was aimed at registering a protest against human right violations in Tibet and India's policy towards Tibet.

Addressing a gathering there, she urged the sports Organisations all over the world to appeal to the Chinese government to stop repression of the Tibetans as the Olympics should not be held under the shadow of human right violations.

She said the Tibetans were non-violent in nature and never associated themselves with any terrorist organisation. Therefore, no violent force should be used to suppress their voice.

Ms Bharati said she had come here for the Tibet cause and to stand for the liberation of Tibet from the Chinese yoke.

To a question, Ms Bharati denied that she was interfering in the internal matter of China. She said "one can raise voice against human right violations anywhere in the world." UNI KAS RR KP[1920