Islamabad, Jan 26: Patriotic fervour and traditional gaiety marked the 54th Republic Day celebrations in Indian embassies across the world, even as Indo-Pak tensions cast a shadow over the celebrations in Pakistan this time.
In view of the prevailing diplomatic tensions the
celebrations were a low key affair in Pakistan with the Indian
High Commission not hosting the public reception for the
second year in succession.
The small Indian diplomatic community was led by charge
d'affaires Sudhir Vyas, who unfurled the national tricolour
and read President A P J Abdul Kalam's address at the High
Commission here.
The children of the staff of the High Commission, which
has been cut short over the past one year after New Delhi
recalled its High Commissioner following the attack on
parliament, sang the national anthem and patriotic songs.
Janata party president Dr Subramanian Swamy and his
party colleague and former Karnataka education minister
Subbiah Shetty, who are in Pakistan, also attended the flag
hoisting ceremony.
In Russia, hundreds of Moscow-based Indian families
gathered at the Indian embassy for the flag hoisting ceremony
to mark the occasion.
After reading President A P J Abdul Kalam's address to
the nation, Indian ambassador to Russia, K Raghunath, greeted
his compatriots and urged them to preserve the unity in
diversity. The day was also celebrated with great enthusiasm
by Indians in other former Soviet republic capitals, including
Kiev, Tashkent And Dushanbe.
Bureau Report
