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I-Day celebrated in big way across the nation
New Delhi, Aug 15: For the first time in 14 years of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of people today participated in the Independence Day celebration but in Gujarat the occasion was marred by controversy with the opposition Congress abstaining from the official function held at Patan and organised a parallel flag hoisting.
New Delhi, Aug 15: For the first time in 14 years of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of people today participated in the Independence Day celebration but in Gujarat the occasion was marred by controversy with the opposition Congress abstaining from the official function held at Patan and organised a parallel flag hoisting.
State governments announced a slew of welfare measures for overall development and uplift of the downtrodden and rural masses. With security being on maximum alert, the 57th Independence Day celebrations passed off peacefully all over the country.
In the Capital, Prime Minister unfurled the national flag and addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
In the North East, people turned up in large numbers at the official functions, defying bandh and boycott calls by militant outfits in Manipur and Meghalaya. Yesterday, militants struck in a big way, exploding a bomb on a bridge in Manipur killing six bus passengers and in Tripura 30 persons lost their lives in attacks by underground outfits. Defying a 24 hour bandh call by the banned militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, people in Meghalaya turned out in large numbers to celebrate the day, with Chief Minister D D Lapang urging them to stand up against militancy.
Rejecting the bandh call by Hurriyat Conference and militant organisations, over 15,000 people thronged Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar to hear Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed assuring that his coalition government would work for restoration of peace and dignity, providing a responsive administration and make the state a model one.
Setting a new precedent, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag, away from the state capital Gandhinagar, in the historic town of Patan and resolved to make the state a front runner in development. On the occasion, he announced a grant of two crore for development of the town, which, he said, had shown people how Independence Day must be celebrated.
Modi said the state government has chalked out the "Jyotirgram Yojna", wherein villages having population of over 3,000, will be given 24 hour three-phase electricity akin to cities. Gujarat has the capability to match global parameters, he said, adding "time is not far when there would be a Gujarat centre of excellence".
The opposition Congress, which boycotted the official function in Patan, the ancient capital of Gujarat, to protest BJP government's "extravaganza", organised a parallel programme to mark the day with Vithalbhai Pandya, father of slain former state minister Haren Pandya, unfurling the tricolour.
In Mumbai, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde reiterated Maharashtra government's resolve to work for speedy implementation of various welfare schemes, aimed at providing justice, strength and honour to the poor and deprived sections of the community.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced a rollback in the price of rice sold through public distribution system and declared restoration of free saree and dhoti scheme for the poor and landless agricultural labourers to mark the day. Reports of the celebrations were also received from several states, whose chief ministers pledged to make their respective states "model ones".
Bureau Report
In the Capital, Prime Minister unfurled the national flag and addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
In the North East, people turned up in large numbers at the official functions, defying bandh and boycott calls by militant outfits in Manipur and Meghalaya. Yesterday, militants struck in a big way, exploding a bomb on a bridge in Manipur killing six bus passengers and in Tripura 30 persons lost their lives in attacks by underground outfits. Defying a 24 hour bandh call by the banned militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, people in Meghalaya turned out in large numbers to celebrate the day, with Chief Minister D D Lapang urging them to stand up against militancy.
Rejecting the bandh call by Hurriyat Conference and militant organisations, over 15,000 people thronged Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar to hear Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed assuring that his coalition government would work for restoration of peace and dignity, providing a responsive administration and make the state a model one.
Setting a new precedent, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag, away from the state capital Gandhinagar, in the historic town of Patan and resolved to make the state a front runner in development. On the occasion, he announced a grant of two crore for development of the town, which, he said, had shown people how Independence Day must be celebrated.
Modi said the state government has chalked out the "Jyotirgram Yojna", wherein villages having population of over 3,000, will be given 24 hour three-phase electricity akin to cities. Gujarat has the capability to match global parameters, he said, adding "time is not far when there would be a Gujarat centre of excellence".
The opposition Congress, which boycotted the official function in Patan, the ancient capital of Gujarat, to protest BJP government's "extravaganza", organised a parallel programme to mark the day with Vithalbhai Pandya, father of slain former state minister Haren Pandya, unfurling the tricolour.
In Mumbai, Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde reiterated Maharashtra government's resolve to work for speedy implementation of various welfare schemes, aimed at providing justice, strength and honour to the poor and deprived sections of the community.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced a rollback in the price of rice sold through public distribution system and declared restoration of free saree and dhoti scheme for the poor and landless agricultural labourers to mark the day. Reports of the celebrations were also received from several states, whose chief ministers pledged to make their respective states "model ones".
Bureau Report