Thousands Sikkimese march demanding return of Karmapa to Rumtek

Gangtok, Sep 26 (PTI) Thousands of people under the banner of Karmapa Reception Committee (KRC) today marched through the roads of the Sikkim capital demanding that Gyalawa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee be brought back to his throne at Rumtek Monastery. People from all walks of life - youth, elderly and monks under the banner of KRC marched through the streets and then submitted a petition to the Governor B P Singh with a copy to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, KRC sources said. The committee in its memorandum has asked that the Karmapa be allowed to assume his seat at Rumtek by 2011 as it is the fundamental right of the people to worship. After marching through the streets a meeting was held at Paljor Stadium, KRC sources said. Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee was only 14 years old when he escaped from Chinese occupied Tibet Autonomous Region [TAR]. It has been 10 long years that the committee has been working to bring the Karmapa back to his original throne at Rumtek Monastery. The closest he has come to Sikkim is when he visited Mirik Bokar Monastery in West Bengal a few years back. The Union Home Ministry has not given permission to the Karmapa to visit Gangtok, KRC sources added.