Tibetan Government-in-Exile Marks India's 80th Independence Day

The Central Tibetan Administration marked India's 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, with a ceremony at its headquarters in Dharamshala. During the event, CTA President Sikyong Penpa Tsering hoisted the Indian national flag and paid tribute to India's freedom fighters, noting that the nation's independence serves as an inspiration for Tibetans.

While celebrating the occasion, Tsering criticized the Chinese government's policies toward Tibet and other ethnic minority regions. He specifically condemned the Ethnic Unity Law, describing it as a "legal mask" intended to erode the distinct national identities of Tibetans, Mongolians, and Uyghurs to subsume them into a dominant Han Chinese identity.

Tsering argued that the current approach of the Chinese government leaves little room for meaningful dialogue or understanding. The event included official greetings to the people of India issued by CTA spokesperson Tenzin Lekshay.