New Delhi: India's 68th Independence Day was celebrated with great patriotic feeling in all the state.
Punjab, Haryana and their joint capital Chandigarh on Friday celebrated Independence Day amidst unprecedented security arrangements across the region.
Patriotic fervour and gaiety marked the occasion across the two states and union territory Chandigarh as flag hoisting ceremonies were held at district headquarters, educational institutes and other places, officials said. The celebrations passed off peacefully as no untoward incident was reported from any part of the region, officials said here. Freedom fighters, who played a vital role in the struggle for independence, were remembered on the occasion.
Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator, Shivraj Patil unfurled the tricolour at a function, while chief minister Parkash Singh Badal unfurled the tricolour at a state level function at Patiala. Punjab's deputy chief minister and ruling Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal unfurled the tricolour at Bathinda.
In Haryana, newly appointed governor Kaptan Singh Solanki unfurled the flag at a function held at Ambala, while chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, unfurled the flag at Panipat as Independence Day was celebrated with much enthusiasm in other parts of the state as well.
In Kerala CM Chandy announced more government jobs, free three-wheelers and easy accessibility for physically challenged people in Kerala as the latest sops from the government on Wednesday.
The state government has asked departments to immediately notify the vacancies for the physically-challenged in government jobs. "We have cleared the list till 2007 and we will clear the present list also at the earliest," he said.
"After a job, the biggest requirement for such people is their free movement. We have decided to give a three wheeler free of cost to all those who want one. The list is getting readied by the Minister of Social Welfare. All those who want a three wheeler will get one," said Mr Chandy.
According to rough estimates which the department has collected at the moment, the list includes about 1200 physically challenged people who have expressed their desire for a three wheeler.
"There is no last date for this scheme. We have also directed the state Public Works department to see that they make suitable arrangements for the physically challenged to come to government offices without any hassle," he said. He said the Centre has a scheme where they provide Rs.10, 000 each to the physically challenged to buy a wheel chair.
In a departure from the over five-decades-old tradition of Independence Day celebrations at Parade Grounds,
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday hoisted the national flag at the historic Golconda Fort.
In a move aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Telangana, the Chief Minister choose the fort for the first Independence Day celebrations after formation of Telangana as a separate state.
After paying tributes to martyrs at a memorial at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad, Mr. Rao drove to Golconda and hoisted the tricolour at the colourful ceremony with the majestic fort in the backdrop. The Chief Minister unfurled the national flag on a 62 feet tall pole from a makeshift platform close to the iconic Taramati mosque at 9.30 a.m. amid playing of national anthem.
Before unfurling the tricolour, Mr. Rao was presented the guard of honour and he inspected a couple of contingents of police. After hoisting the flag, he later addressed the gathering. Due to lack of space in the ruined fort, the traditional parade and demonstration by tableaux were omitted.
The ruined fort on the fringes of the city was the capital of Qutub Shahi kingdom from 1518 to 1687. The fort was built by Kaktiyas of Warangal during 10th century as a mud fort and was fortified by Qutub Shahis.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Friday hoisted the national flag and received the guard of honour at the Field Marshal Manekshaw parade ground here to mark the 68th Independence Day.
On a bright sunny day, after the national anthem was rendered, the chief minister went around the sprawling ground in an open jeep, inspecting the contingents of police and students as their bands played.
About 10,000 people, including hundreds of children, thronged the venue in the city centre to witness the colourful parade. An army chopper showered rose petals on the dais.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Friday asked militants to give up violence and promised steps to check illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
Sangma made the appeal here at the main Independence Day celebration attended by thousands of people despite rains and boycott calls by militants.
"I call upon all the misguided youth (militants) waging war against the nation and our own people to realize the futility of violence," he said in his speech. He urged them to take advantage of the government's offer to come overground and avail the rehabilitation package.
"Violence has never been an option for providing any solution to grievances," Sangma said. "There is no issue that does not lend itself to solution through meaningful engagement and reconciliation." He said the decades old militancy can be addressed effectively through a multipronged approach by looking at the root cause.
"These problems have also been posing serious challenges to many of our neighbouring northeastern states, particularly states having porous border with our neighbouring countries.
"Hence, there is a need for a coordinated approach along with the active support of the central government to tackle the problems of militancy effectively."
Thousands of people attended the official celebrations across Meghalaya despite the inclement weather and a shutdown called by the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and the A'chik Songna An'pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK) groups.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan unfurled the national flag here as
Maharashtra Friday celebrated the 68th Independence Day. The main state function was held in Pune, where Governor K. Sankaranarayanan unfurled the national flag and took the salute.
The governor, however, cancelled the traditional reception at Raj Bhavan as a mark of respect to 152 people killed in the state's worst landslide in Pune last month.
Chavan unfurled the national flag at a function near Mantralaya - the administrative headquarters of the state government. Flag hoisting ceremonies, with participation of a large number of people, were organised in all district collectorates, government and private offices, colleges, schools and other organisations across the state.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday challenged the separatists' claim that thousands are languishing in jails here and asserted that hardly 100 people are currently under detention in the state.
Addressing the Independence Day function at the Bakshi Stadium here, Abdullah said: "I challenge all those people who are trying to stoke passions in the state by saying that thousands are languishing in prisons in Jammu and Kashmir.
If 100 people are in prisons here this time, I would say that is a big number."
He appealed people to participate in the state elections due here in November-December in large numbers. He said that despite separatist appeals people have been voting in the past and will do so this time also.
Addressing the last Independence Day function of his six year term, Abdullah highlighted the achievements of his government.
He said militancy related incidents across the state had come down by 80 percent during this period. He said the state government was also trying to reduce the presence of security forces in cities and towns. He said around 300,000 passports were cleared by the state police during this period.
"Around 350 people who had gone across the borders have returned back to their homes under the state government's rehab policy," the chief minister said. He said around 500,000 tourists visited the Kashmir Valley because of an improvement in the overall situation.
On the demand of revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Abdullah said that "if militancy has come down by 80 percent, time is not far when AFSPA would also have to go". He spoke of the shortage of electricity in the state and said during his present tenure, electric power projects likely to produce 1,500 MW were started.
The chief minister also took salute at an impressive parade in which contingents of police and paramilitary troopers participated.
