I-Day celebrated with patriotic fervour across Kashmir valley

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 15: Like other parts of the country, 66th Independence Day was celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervor across the Kashmir valley.
Budgam: The main function was held in the Bulbul Shah Sports Stadium where the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather unfurled the Tricolour and took salute on march past comprising smart contingents of CRPF, J&K Police, Home guards and students of various schools.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rather paid glowing tributes to the leaders and freedom fighters, who liberated the Nation from British slavery by offering supreme sacrifices. He said it was their sacrifices, which laid a strong edifice of secularism and socialism in the country and we are taking breath in a free and fearless atmosphere today. He called for self-introspection to see what we have contributed to protect this hard won independence and what further needs to be done to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
He also paid gratitude to Defence forces for guarding the borders round the clock, adding that para military forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police also needs great appreciation and encouragement for dealing with internal situation professionally and efficiently. “Whether it is scorching heat of the summer or chilling cold of winters, the forces always remain on guard at the borders for their protection against enemies” he added.
Baramulla: Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din unfurled the National Flag at District Police Lines and took salute on the march past by contingents of JKP, JKAP, Home Guards, Fire Service & emergency Service, NCC and students of various educational Institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the nation has achieved freedom by offering great sacrifices and we should contribute to the development and prosperity of the country. He said since Independence, India has progressed in every field and a new era of development has started. While enumerating the achievements registered by the State, he said that successful conduct of panchayat elections and empowerment of PRIs at the grass root level is a great step of the Government in this regard.
He mentioned the implementation of PSGA, Right to Information Act by which administration has been made accountable to ensure that people’s grievances are redressed on priority basis. He said major projects have been launched for augmenting electricity, road network, potable drinking water and other facilities to the people of the state.
A cultural Programme was present by the school children and artists of Information Department on the occasion.
Kupwara:  Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir unfurled the tricolor at District Police Lines and took the salute on the march past. The Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Sarmad Hafeez, District officers and officers of police and security forces were present on the occasion.
Greeting the people on the occasion, Minister sought people’s cooperation for making the J&K economic self reliant for which he described that peace is imperative for achieving this objective.
Mr Mir said that State particularly Kupwara district received set back on development front during the two decades long turmoil. He hailed the people for facing the challenges bravely and their massive participation in a democratic process for ushering new era of peace and development in the district.
Anantnag: Minister for Public Enterprises, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed unfurled National Flag on 66th Independence Day at district headquarters and took salute on the march past.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Peerzada said “it is due to the great scarifies offered by our leaders to free the country from the clutches of the British rule, that we have achieved the freedom and it is our duty to serve our motherland and contribute for the development and progress of the nation”.
He said that since independence the nation has made remarkable progress is every field. Referring to the State, he said due to liberal financial assistance from Centre, the State has launched massive development programme for the equitable development of the all regions of the State. He said that health, education infrastructure and allied sectors have been prioritized for the sustained development of the State.
The function was also attended Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni, MLCs Nizam-ud-Din Khatana and Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag besides District Officers and officials of Police and security agencies.
Pulwama: Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar unfurled the National Flag and took salute on the March Past by the various contingents of students, JK Police, JKAP, CRPF, NCC, Fire and Emergency Services and Homeguards.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister while asking the people to ensure participatory role in sustaining the peaceful environs of the State, said that it was imperative to understand the importance of peace, which is important for carrying on the developmental and other related activities.
“The State has undergone troubled times and it was due to the sustained efforts of the Government that the peace has been sustained and unprecedented developmental works initiated by the Government and we hope that we would be able to carry this forward”, he said.
Referring to the Indo-Pak talks, the Minister said that Government had from the very first day advocated the medium of dialogue for solving all the issues and history stands testimony to the fact that various vexed issues have been solved through this medium.
Ganderbal: Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad unfurled Tri-colour at Madr-e-Meharban Stadium.
Calling upon the people to strengthen the hands of the present Government for ushering in an era of peace, tranquility, development and prosperity in the State, the Minister highlighted the landmark achievements of the present Government and said that equitable development and justice to the people of all the three regions of the State is the priority of the Government.
Referring to developmental front, Mian Altaf said that the state has achieved a lot in every sector with regard to development. He said that the Baramulla-Srinagar, Srinagar-Ganderbal and Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is being upgraded for the convenience of the people.
The Minister said the Government is establishing a new Ganderbal Power house to provide uninterrupted power supply to the people of the area. He said the conduct of Panchayat elections will help in implementation of development process by involving the people at grass-root level in the State. He urged upon the people to maintain peace, harmony and brotherhood to take maximum benefits of welfare schemas being launched by the Government.
Shopian: Minister for CAPD, Qamar Ali Akhoon hoisted the National Flag at Shahid Imitiaz Thokar Stadium and took salute on the march past comprising contingents of J&K Police, CRPF, Home Guard, Forest Protection Force, NCC and School students.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister remembered the supreme sacrifices of the freedom fighters to liberate the country from the clutches of British Rule. He said “we have to remember freedom fighters who achieved freedom by giving supreme sacrifices and now the country has distinction of being largest democracy in the world”.
The Minister gave brief account of developmental activities in the district.
Later, the Minister distributed trophies and awards among the students presented cultural programme on the occasion.
Kulgam: Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo unfurled the Tricolour and took salute on the march past.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister Sakina said, “this day remind us the sacrifices made by those thousands men, women and towering personalities like the father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and Abdul Kalam Azad and Sher-i-Kashmir, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah for liberating the nation from the  clutches of the British rules”.
“We suffered a lot during the last two decades of turmoil, but now the State yet again has been put on the development track with right direction and now an era of development has been started in the State”, she said.
“Tourism sector is getting priority and many new Tourism Development Authorities have been set up for boosting the tourism sector, which has great potential for providing employment opportunities to unemployment youths”, she said, adding “this year a record number of tourists visited the Jammu and Kashmir including more than six lakh pilgrims who paid obeisance at the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji”.

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