Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: The 67th Republic Day was celebrated with patriotic fervor and gaiety across Jammu region with Governor N N Vohra unfurling the National Flag in Jammu at a State level function held at MA Stadium and District Develop-ment Commissioners at respective District Headquarters.
JAMMU: Governor hoisted the Tricolour at Maulana Azad Stadium which was attended by around 25,000 people. He inspected the parade and took the salute at an impressive march past.
The smart contingents participating in the parade were from the Army, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, men and women contingents of the JKAP, Jammu and Kashmir Police, State Disaster Response Force, J&K Fire and Emergency Services, J&K Forest Protection Force, Ex-Servicemen, NCC Boys and Girls, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Bands of Army, BSF, J&K Police, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police and of the various boys and girls schools. For the first time, a contingent from Himachal Pradesh Police also participated in the march past.
Usha Vohra, First Lady, Kavinder Gupta, Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Haji Inayat Ali, Chairman, Legislative Council, Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, Deputy Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Members of Parliament, Legislators, Judges of the State High Court, senior Civil, Police and Army officers, political and social activists, prominent citizens and a large number of the citizenry were present on the occasion.
A colourful cultural pagea-ntry based on national integration and the glorious composite heritage of the State was presented by several thousand students from various local schools on this occasion. Bhartiyam, in which students from various educational institutions participated and Khargam presented by CRPF Headquarters, Bantalab, Jammu, received a thunderous applause. Army Weapons and Equipment Display by Army, air display by Air Force and Motorcycle Acrobatics display by men and women Dare-Devils of J&K Police received repeated cheers from the jam-packed audience in the Stadium.
Other attractions of the programme included tableau on “Climate Change’’ by the Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing, J&K; “Water Security Plan, Preservation & Conserv-ation of Water Under National Rural Drinking Water Programme” by Executive Director, CCDU, Department of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Jammu; “Make J&K Clean & Open Defecation Free” by the Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Jammu; “Mission Indra Dhanush” by NRHM, Jammu; and “Solar Power & its Devices” by the Department of Science & Technology, Jammu.
KATHUA: Deputy Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar hoisted the National Flag at Sports Stadium and took salute at the march past comprising of contingents of Police, CRPF, Forest Protection Force, Police training School, Kathua, NCC and platoons from various Government and private schools.
Impressive cultural items based on patriotic theme were also presented by students of various institutions. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner said, “it is a matter of pride and honor to celebrate this day as on this day Mahatma Gandhi started Swaraj movement, which further ignited the freedom struggle during the British rule”, adding “India is biggest democracy of the world and brotherhood, communal harmony and tolerance are key attributes making it a diverse and inclusive democracy”.
Among others MLA Kathua Rajeev Jasrotia, MLA Basohli Ch Lal Singh, Additional District Development Commissioner, Kathua, Dr Manmohan Singh, SSP Kathua Neeva Jain, district officers, prominent citizens and large number of people and students were present on the occasion.
At Bani, SDM Rajesh Basotra hoisted the Tricolour while as at Hiranagar SDM Sohan Lal unfurled the National Flag at Mini Stadium. At Billawar, SDM, R S Charak hoisted the National Flag and took salute at the march-past. At Basohli, SDM Gurmukh Singh hoisted the Tricolour and took salute.
SAMBA: The main function was held at Arazi Stadium where District Development Commi-ssioner Sheetal Nanda unfurled the Tricolour and took salute at the march past.
SSP Samba Joginder Singh, Additional Deputy Commissi-oner Pawan Sharma and large number of citizens, officers of civil and police administration attended the function.
Addressing the gathering, DDC extended warm greetings to the people on the occasion and urged to take pledge for maintaining harmony and brotherhood. DDC threw light on the initiatives being taken for development of the district.
Republic Day function was also organized at Sub Divisions of Ghagwal and Vijaypur, where the respective SDMs hoisted the Flag and at tehsil headquarters tricolors were hoisted by the respective tehsildars.
UDHAMPUR: The main function was held in the premises of Government PG Degree College for Boys where the District Development Commissi-oner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary hoisted the National Flag, inspected parade and took salute at an impressive march past presented by contingents drawn from CRPF, Police, Forest Protection Force, Home guard, NCC Boys and Girls and Government and private educational institutions.
Congratulating gathering who had turned up at the venue of Republic Day function, the DDC said that the Constitution of independent India which was enforced on this day in 1950 provides equal rights to every citizen of the country irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion.
He highlighted the achievements and developmental activities carried out in the district. He also spoke on Project RAHAT launched by district administration in which 112 bridges would be constructed in the district by March 2016.
MLA Udhampur, Pawan Kumar Gupta, MLA Chenani, Dinanath Bhagat, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range, Surinder Gupta, SSP Udhampur, Suleiman Choudhary, Additional District Development Commiss-ioner, Arvind Sharma, Additi-onal Deputy Commissioner, A S Rana, Joint Director Planning, Rakesh Jamwal, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Rajeev Magotra, district officers, prominent citizens, students and people in large number were present on the occasion.
REASI: District Develop-ment Commissioner, Sushma Chauhan unfurled the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march past of 28 contingents drawn from J&K Police, CRPF, NCC and educational institutions at Sports Stadium.
MLA Reasi Ajay Nanda, ADDC Bhawani Rakwal, SSP Reasi Sujit Kumar, ADC Reasi Shiv Kumar Gupta, ACR, DYSSO, CEO, CPO, senior officers from Civil and Police Administration, prominent citizens, general public and students in large number were present on the occasion.
While speaking on the occasion, DDC paid homage to the great leaders and freedom fighters who gave immense sacrifices to liberate India from the British rule and security personnel who laid down their lives for upholding sovereignty and integrity of the country. She also highlighted the major developmental projects taken up in Reasi to provide better facilities to the people.
Similar functions were also held at Sub Division and Tehsil Headquarters across the district.
DODA: The main function was held in the Sports Stadium where Deputy Commissioner Bhupinder Kumar hoisted the Tricolour and after inspection of parade took salute at the march past. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “on this joyous occasion we must pay homage to the great leaders who carried out a prolonged struggle and sacrificed their lives to liberate India from the colonial rule.
“There are certain challenges in the society against which we need to put in concerted efforts to liberate the society from these evils. Towards the attainment of an objective of a society free from these evils all of us must pledge and join hands to negate all divisive and communal forces and promote societal harmony and brotherhood which is imperative for focusing on the development” , he added.
DIG Doda- Ramban Range Nissar Ahmed, SSP Doda Z N Manhas among other officers of District Administration and Army were present on the occasion. At Bhaderwah, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Mohd Anwar Banday unfurled the National Flag and took salute at march past contingents.
RAJOURI: The main function was held in sprawling ground of District Police Lines where District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, Shabir Ahmed Bhat unfurled the Tricolour and took salute at the impressive parade.
Vice Chairman, Pahari Advisory Board, Kuldeep Raj Gupta, MLC Vibodh Gupta, DIG, Rajouri-Poonch Range, Ashok Attri, SSP Rajouri, Rajeshwar Singh, ADDC Rajouri, Avtar Singh Chib besides other district officers attended the function.
Addressing the gathering, Bhat highlighted the importance of Republic Day and said that the countrymen got this special day due to supreme sacrifices of the freedom fighters. Referring to the development scenario of district, Bhat said that 80% of the target under district plan has been achieved so far.
Similar functions were also held at all the tehsil and block headquarters of the Rajouri district.
KISHTWAR: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar G N Balwan unfurled the National Flag at Parade ground and took salute at march past contingents drawn from the CRPF, CISF, JKP, JKAP, Forest protection force, NCC and school children.
Deputy Commissioner paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and drafters of the Constitution. Recalling the sacrifices of great leaders of the country for strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and unity, Mr Balwan said that leaders like S C Bose, B R Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and J L Nehru laid a strong edifice of brotherhood, amity and communal harmony in the country.
Highlighting the achievements made under Ladli Beti and Aasra schemes in the district, he said that more than 2000 registrations have been done under the scheme which is remarkable.
MLA Kishtwar, Sunil Kumar Sharma, ADC Kishori Lal, SSP Kishtwar Sandeep Wazir besides other district officers were also present on the occasion.
Similar functions were also held at all Sub-divisional and Tehsil levels across the district where the respective Sub Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars unfurled the National Flag and took salute.
RAMBAN: District Develo-pment Commissioner, Ramban, Bashir Ahmed Dar unfurled National Flag and took salute at the march past contingents of JKP, IRP, CRPF, FPF, NCC and the students.
DDC after greeting the people of the district paid tributes to the freedom fighters and great leaders of the country who gave great contributions for making India an independent Republic. He also gave a brief account of the main developmental activities of the previous year and which are to be completed in near future. He called the inauguration of the phase- II, 450 MW Unit of the 900MW Baglihar Hydro Power Project and laying the foundation stone of the Udhampur-Banihal 4-lane project by the Prime Minister as big milestone in the development of not only in the district but also the J&K.
MLA, Ramban, Neelam Langeh, Commander 11–Sector, Brigadier KP Singh and SSP Ramban, Randeep Kumar were also present on the occasion.
At Banihal, Ramsu and Gool Sub-Divisions the National Flag was hoisted by the respective SDMs.
POONCH: Deputy Com-missioner, Mohammad Harun Malik hoisted the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march past contingents of JKP, JKAP, NCC, Band of District Police Poonch, 1/1 Gorkha Rifles Pipe Band of 93 Infantry Brigade, QRT Commandos, CRPF and students of various educational institutions of the district.
Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council, Jahangir Hussain Mir, Member Legislative Council, Yashpal Sharma, former legislator, Ch Bashir Ahmed Naz, Senior Superintendent of Police, J S Johar besides prominent citizens, Judges, members of Bar, students, officers of Army, Civil and Police administration were also present on the occasion.
While speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner delved into the Constitutional and democratic history of the Republic Day and paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and constitutional framers who made supreme sacrifices to make India an independent Republic.
At Mendhar and Surankote, SDM Mendhar, Thakur Sher Singh and SDM Surankote, Mohd Afzal Mirza respectively hoisted the National Flag whereas at Tehsil Headquarters Mandi, Mankote and Balakote respective Tehsildars unfurled the National Flag and took salute.
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