Rebuplic Day celebrated across India

Maharashtra

Maharashtra celebrated the 62nd Republic Day with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm on Wednesday with Governor K. Sankaranarayanan unfurling the national flag at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

Sankaranarayanan took salute from the security forces at an impressive parade in Dadar in central Mumbai, which also saw participation of more than 200 school children.

Schools, colleges and institutions hoisted the national flag followed by cultural programmes in the morning.

The national flag was hoisted in Malegaon, in Nashik district, amid tight security and homage was paid to the district additional collector Yashwant Sonawane who was burnt alive by the oil mafia on Tuesday.

The flag hoisting ceremony also took place at all district headquarters of the state that was attended by the general public.

Karnataka Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj on Wednesday hoisted the tricolour at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground at Bangalore amid tight security to mark the 62nd Republic Day.

Bhardwaj took salute and inspected the guard of honour by going round the grounds atop an open jeep amid cheers and applause by about 5,000 people gathered for the grand occasion.

Thousands of rose petals were dropped from a helicopter when the governor unfurled the flag on a bright sunny day and the national anthem was played.

Contingents of army, navy and air force led the parade followed by the Karnataka State Reserve Police, National Cadet Corps and boys and girls from the Scouts and Guides.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, cabinet ministers and senior officials were present on the occasion.

Tamil Nadu on Wednesday celebrated the republic day with lot of zeal with Governor Surjit Singh Barnala unfurling the national flag at the Marina beach at Chennai.

Barnala also took the salute from the three wings of the armed forces and other security agencies.

Karunanidhi presented the Anna gallantry award to four people.

He also presented awards to Tamil Nadu sportspersons who won medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

Across the state, district collectors unfurled the national flag and took salute from police contingents.

Amid the movement for statehood to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan Wednesday used the 62nd Republic Day to urge people to act with maturity and maintain peace.

The governor said peace and public order were critical to continue the development in IT and ITES sectors and to attract new investment.

Earlier, the governor hoisted the national flag and reviewed a colourful parade. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, his cabinet colleagues and senior civil and military officials were present.

Deputy Speaker Nandendla Manohar hoisted the tricolour at the state assembly while legislative council chairman A. Chakrapani attended the celebrations at the council building.

On India\'s Republic Day Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday called for the defeat of \"fundamentalist and anti-peace approaches\".

Advertisements in newspapers read: \"Celebrating six decades of sovereign pride, Jammu and Kashmir greets the nation on its 62nd Republic Day.\"

It added: \"Let us defeat together all kinds of fundamentalist and anti-peace approaches, which spread hate and venom.\"

The words assume significance as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has come out strongly against the Bharatiya Janata Party\'s decision to hoist the Indian flag in Srinagar.

Describing Maoists as \"inhuman and a threat to Indian democracy\", Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt said Wednesday that the country would crush the challenges of \"violent forces\".

In his 20-minute speech, Dutt said that Maoists had expanded their reach in the state\'s border regions and jungle pockets and waged war against the Indian state.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh hoisted the national flag at the Lalbagh ground in Jagdalpur town, headquarters of the sprawling 40,000 sq km mineral-rich Bastar region.

He vowed to fight the Maoists, who have been running a parallel government in parts of Bastar since the late 1980s.



People in northeast India defied calls by separatist rebels to boycott Republic Day and joined the celebrations across the region amid a strike called by the militants on Wednesday.

At least six outlawed rebel groups, including the powerful United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), called a 17-hour general strike from 1 a.m. to protest the celebrations marking India\'s transition to a Republic in 1950.

Militant groups in Assam, Manipur and Tripura called the boycott.

There were sporadic incidents of violence in the run up to Republic Day. Militants in Assam Tuesday bombed a goods train and attacked a passenger bus wounding three people.

\"Violence is not an answer to resolve any of the problems and we hope the militant groups join the mainstream and stop all forms of killings and bloodshed,\" Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik said in his Republic Day speech.

Regional heads in the insurgency-hit northeastern states of Manipur and Tripura appealed to rebel groups to come for peace talks with the government.

Uttar Pradesh Wednesday celebrated the nation\'s 62nd Republic Day with patriotic fervour as the unfurling of the tricolour, cultural programmes and march pasts marked the celebrations in Lucknow.

The main function was organised here at the Vidhan Sabha Marg which was attended by Governor B.L. Joshi and Chief Minister Mayawati. Joshi hoisted the national flag and took salute at an impressive march past in front of the state assembly.

A number of policemen were awarded different medals at the function for their meritorious services.



A number of cultural programmes and tableaux highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh were presented.

Adequate security personnel were deployed at cinema halls, railway stations, bus depots, multiplexes and other public places, Special Director General (Crime, Law and Order) Brij Lal said.

Bihar celebrated the 62nd Republic Day on Wednesday, with Governor Devanand Konwar hoisting the national flag here at an event also attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

After unfurling the national flag, the governor lauded the government for initiating steps to combat corruption and crime.

According to reports reaching here, Maoists hoisted black flags in many places including Gaya, Aurangabad, Muzaffarpur, Munger and Banka.

West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan unfurled the national flag and took the salute at a colourful parade as the state joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the 62nd Republic Day on Wednesday.

Army, navy and air force units, police and fire brigade personnel, school children and dance troupes regaled the spectators in the presence of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, ministers, bureaucrats, senior army officers, members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries.

The day was also celebrated at central and state government offices, including Kolkata Port Trust, South-eastern Railway and Eastern Railway, civic bodies and educational institutions


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