Headlines
Pomp, pageantry mark R-Day across India
Jammu/Kolkata/Guwahati/Chennai/Panaji, Jan 26
Republic Day was Monday celebrated across India with gaiety and
patriotic fervour, as leaders stressed the need of rooting out
corruption and working for development while asking insurgents to shun
violence.
The day was largely peaceful, barring twin blasts near Assam's Digboi town triggered by the United Liberation Front of Asom.
Chief
Minister Tarun Gogoi reiterated the government's tough stand on
militancy, and urged insurgents to shun violence, while Governor P.B.
Acharya expressed concern over the killing of rhinos and said
preservation of the state's symbol was a collective responsibility.
Jammu
and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra hoped an elected government would soon
take over the reins in the state, and also expressed concern that the
past year saw repeated violations of the ceasefire by Pakistan and
attempts at infiltration.
In Mumbai, Maharashtra Governor C.V.
Rao unfurled the tricolour at Shivaji Park, and spoke about the Devendra
Fadnavis government's various initiatives.
In Bengaluru,
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala unfurled the tricolour, as an air force
helicopter showered rose petals at the Field Marshal Manekshaw parade
ground, where Chief Minister Siddarmaiah was also present. The armed
forces, police, National Cadets Corps and hundreds of school children
took part in the parade.
In Aizawl, Mizoram Governor Aziz Qureshi said the state was fully committed to root out corruption in all its forms.
In Panaji, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha blamed tourists for the cultural intrusion in the tourism-friendly state.
"Tourists
who come here bring with them some kind of culture. We welcome all good
things which they bring. But some things which they bring distract our
youth. For Goa, tourism is an important industry. People who come to Goa
think it is a place only for enjoyment. I can say there are some social
diseases which need control. We should know what to accept and what not
to accept from them (tourists)," she said in her address.
In
Tura, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the government has
adopted new developmental initiatives to bring in rapid socio-economic
transformative changes, and lauded the security forces for their
achievements in the fight against militants.
In Jaipur, Rajasthan
Governor Kalyan Singh said everyone should work for the state's
development, and that the state was working on a strategy to provide
employment to 15 lakh youth.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said the Left Front government will not allow any attempt to divide the northeastern state.
"A
section of people are trying to split the state and disturb peace. The
government will resist the move," he said after unfurling the tricolour
in Agartala.
He said that despite the best efforts of security
forces, terrorism was yet to be curbed, as militants still have camps in
neighbouring Bangladesh.
In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Governor
P. Sathasivam asked people to improve the quality of education and be
concerned about the environment. Kerala has made big strides in
education but it still remains a case of "a little done and vast
undone", he added.
West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi
unfurled the tricolour in Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
watched the proceedings, and later posted on Twitter: "On this Republic
Day let us again rededicate ourselves to being a sovereign, socialist,
secular, democratic republic."
Republic Day was also celebrated
across Bihar with joy and enthusiasm, while Chief Minister Jitan Ram
Manjhi appealed to people to maintain communal harmony and peace.
Maoists had put up black flags in Gaya, Aurangabad, Jamui and Banka
districts to protest against Republic Day.
In Andhra Pradesh,
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan exuded confidence that the state would
recover the lost ground and move on a trajectory of growth and
development. He also paid tributes to Pingali Venkaiah, who designed the
national flag and hailed from this region.
Republic Day was
celebrated across Odisha with gaiety and enthusiasm despite intelligence
inputs about a possible terror strike and amidst a Maoist boycott call.
Hoisting the tricolour in Cuttack, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
reaffirmed his commitment to building a prosperous state.
Tamil
Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah unfurled the national flag in Chennai. Chief
Minister O. Panneerselvam, his ministers and a large number of people
enjoyed the various floats and dances by colourfully-attired school
students.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav greeted the
people on Republic Day, and hoped that they will commit themselves to
take the country forward on the path of progress and prosperity.