Region sees gala I-Day celebrations

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 16

The 72nd Independence Day was celebrated with enthusiasm and patriotic fervour in the Jammu region. The main function was held at Mini Stadium, Parade Ground, where Adviser BB Vyas hoisted the national flag and took the salute at the march past.

Addressing the people, Vyas rolled out a multi-pronged operational plan being followed by the administration to further push the developmental tempo and revive the self-government institutions in the state.

Unfolding initiatives to achieve the desired growth in the key sectors, Vyas said the Governor’s administration had taken concrete measures for holding the panchayat and municipal elections to establish democratically elected self-governing bodies at the grass-roots level.

At the district level, festivity marked the I-Day celebrations across the Jammu province.

In Samba, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sushma Chouhan unfurled the national flag and took the salute at the march past. The main function in Kathua was held at District Sports Stadium, where DC Rohit Khajuria hoisted the national flag and took the salute at the parade.

At Doda, the main function was held at Sports Stadium, where DC Simrandeep Singh unfurled the Tricolour and inspected the guard of honour. In Kishtwar, DC Angrez Singh Rana unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute at the march past at Parade Ground.

At Reasi, DC Prasanna Ramaswamy G unfurled the national flag and took the salute at the march past.

The day was also celebrated at PG College Boys in Udhampur. DC Ravinder Kumar hoisted the national flag and took the salute at the march past. Meanwhile, Ramban, DC Showkat Aijaz Bhat unfurled the national flag on the Independence Day.

Rajouri DC Mohammad Aijaz Asad was the chief guest at the main I-Day event at District Police Lines in the district, while DC Rahul Yadav unfurled the national flag in Poonch district.

Separate Independence Day functions were organised at the subdivisional and tehsil headquarters.

The Jammu Province People’s Forum celebrated Independence Day at its office here. Forum president Pavittar Singh Bhardwaj hoisted the Tricolour and greeted the people of the state.

The Chamber of Traders Federation celebrated Independence Day by holding a function at its office in Gandhi Nagar here. Attar Singh in the presence of federation president Neeraj Anand, prominent citizens and various trade leaders unfurled the national flag.

Political parties hold events

The BJP celebrated Independence Day with fervour by hoisting the Tricolour at various places in Jammu city. At the party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, City Chowk and the Kachi Chawni office, BJP state president Ravinder Raina hoisted the Tricolour along with other senior leaders. Party leaders also held similar functions in various parts of the region.

BJP leader and MLC Vibodh Gupta visited the house of martyr Tufail Hussain in remote Doodsan Bala village of Rajouri and unfurled the national flag with his family members.

Activists of the Panthers Party also celebrated Independence Day at the party headquarters here. Senior vice-president of the party PK Ganju hoisted the national flag.

Senior Congress leader Mahender Kumar Bhardwaj organised a series of programmes in Bishnah. He unfurled the national flag at Tara Chowk in Bishnah, Treva Morh Border town of Arnia and other places.

Edu institutions soak in Tricolour hues 

• The 72nd Independence Day was celebrated by a number of educational institutions with zeal and patriotic fervour across the Jammu region on Wednesday. 
• At Jammu University, Vice Chancellor Prof Manoj K Dhar hoisted the Tricolour on the specially erected 135-feet-high mast.
• He said: “An onerous responsibility lies on our youth to contribute to the effort of steering the nation and the state towards peace, progress and development.”
• The day was also celebrated at the Central University of Jammu with fervour. VC Prof Ashok Aima said: “We must dedicate ourselves towards nation building with renewed vigour and work for heralding peace and tranquility across the country.” 
• The day at Gandhi Memorial College of Education, Raipur, began with a flag hoisting ceremony followed by the national anthem. Students presented a colourful cultural programme.
• Celebrations were also held at KS Public School; Modern Secular Institute of Education; Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Shastri Nagar; Jammu Sanskriti School; International Delhi Public School; Delhi Public School, Nagbani; Army Public Schools at Udhampur, BD Bari and Rakhmuthi; DAV Collegiate School; and JP World School.