Delhi Police detain five for raising anti-Xi slogans near Bharat Mandapam

The Tibetan community on Friday (September 11, 2026) voiced its opposition to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the BRICS Summit, to be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with protests at different locations in the city.

Around 7:30 a.m., three members of the Students for Free Tibet (SFT) climbed poles inside an underpass near Bharat Mandapam. They waved the Tibetan flag and flags with slogans such as “Xi Jinping=Genocide” and “Tibet is facing ecocide: Free Tibet”.

They were identified as Karma Dolma (24), Tenzin Nordon (23), Tenzin Tsephal (26). “This banner action was carried out by the Students for Free Tibet to condemn Xi Jinping’s visit to India. We challenge Beijing’s narrative on multilateral cooperation and urge BRICS leaders to confront China’s illegal occupation of Tibet which has led to its control over Asia’s major river systems, systemic human rights violations and expanding border aggression,” said Tenzin Passang, national director, SFT.

The three students were placed under preventive detention until September 14 and taken to Tihar jail. Two others — Harshit, a student, and Kasang, a media person with Tibet Radio — were also detained by the Delhi Police while allegedly taking pictures of the incident.

Later, around 10 a.m., a peaceful protest was also conducted at Majnu Ka Tila in north Delhi condemning the Chinese President’s visit to India. The protest attracted scores of Tibetans from Delhi and States such as Karnataka, Odisha, and Himachal Pradesh.

“We are not against BRICS Summit and we congratulate India for hosting it. However, we want to say that Xi Jinping is not welcome here. For decades, China has outrageously violated the human rights of Tibetan people through its state-sanctioned violence and environmental tragedies caused by uncontrolled engineering on the Tibetan plateau. With its Ethnic Unity and Progress law, China has tried to legitimise the suppression of Tibetan language, culture and religion,” said Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, former deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.

The protest started with the singing of the Tibetan national anthem Gyallu, followed by speakers who addressed the gathering. “The Ethnic Unity law has further intensified the marginalisation of Tibetans’ distinct cultural identity. Tibetan martyr Lobga Rangzen self-immolated before the United Nations Headquarters after it was imposed on July 1, 2026, for the cause of Tibet, which is a tragic reminder of China’s repression. So far, around 170 people have self-immolated in protest,” said Tenzin Lobsang, general secretary, Tibetan Youth Congress.

Tsering Wangmo, a vendor from Himachal Pradesh, said that for generations, the Chinese government has been carrying out major violations of human rights of Tibetan people. “Tibetan communities have been facing suppression of our culture and language. Nearly one lakh Tibetans are in exile. We want a free Tibet and want the Chinese government to stop violating the rights of Tibetan people,” she said.

Tenzin Tsering, a 32-year-old store owner in Delhi who grew up in Karnataka, said that despite 60 years of exile, the Tibetan community in India have not forgotten the massive displacements that took place decades ago. “In fact, the younger generations coming up are more active politically and want to know more about Tibetan culture and make efforts to preserve it. They have access to all the resources the earlier generations did not have,” he said.

The protest was organised under the banner of the Tibetan Youth Congress. The protest took place amid heavy police deployment. Deputy Commissioner of Police, North, Niharika Bhatt said that the police held talks with the community leaders and resident welfare associations to dissuade them. “However, it was decided that the protest will take place only inside the Samyeling Tibetan Colony school and the protest march will be held only until 700 metres and not beyond Punjabi Basti,” she said.

About 150 police personnel were deployed outside the school. The Bureau of Dalai Lama also supported the protest and said that they have always supported peaceful demonstrations for the cause of Tibet. “Peaceful dialogue is the only solution. So far, we have no trust in the Chinese President for a reliable solution,” said Jigme Tsering, representative of Dalai Lama.