I Day passes off peacefully, celebrated with fervour

New Delhi, Aug 15: The nation today celebrated the 60th Independence Day amid unprecedented security with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking Pakistan to take concrete steps to prevent cross-border terrorism and said the peace process with Islamabad could succeed only in an ''atmosphere of peace''.

The Day was celebrated with traditional fervour and enthusiasm and barring the killing of two persons in Tripura by militants, the event was, by-and-large peaceful in the country.

Unfurling the national flag from the Red Fort. Dr Singh, in his address said the peace process with Pakistan would be undermined unless Islamabad stoped terrorists from using its territory for activities against India.

He said the UPA government was determined to smash and neutralise terrorist elements in India and ensure internal security and economic progress.

''We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that terrorist elements in India are neutralised and smashed,'' Dr Singh added.

In Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad appealed to the separatists to participate in the third round-table conference and asked the militants to abjure violence so that violence and bloodshed was replaced by peace in the state.

He also called for peaceful settlement of all issues through dialogue and interaction.

Addressing a well-attended Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium in the state capital, the Chief Minister said the time has come that everybody without any political and personal consideration rise to the occasion to seek atmosphere of peace, development and progress of the state.

For the first time in the history of the Supreme Court, Independence Day was celebrated on the apex court premises.

Chief Justice Of India Y K Sabharwal unfurled the national flag on the occasion and congratulated the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for organising the function on the apex court lawns.

The function was attended, among others, by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who is also a senior lawyer.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chatterjee said, ''There is no confrontation between Parliament and the Judiciary and the impression created about the confrontation is wrong.'' Justice Sabharwal also shared the same sentiment and said both the pillars of democracy were doing their own job.

In Agartala, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar unfurled the National Flag at the Asom Rifles Ground and appealed for the changes in the five year planning system to ensure better growth of the nation.

Two persons shot dead by suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura guerillas in Dhalai district in the wee hours ad two persons at Dhaniram Para under Ganganagar Police station area, police added.

In Raipur, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said the Centre has realised the importance of 'Salwa Judum'-- the ongoing peoples' movement against Maoists in Bastar-- and joint efforts were required to eradicate the Naxalite menace in the country. Addressing the gathering at the Independence day celebrations after unfurling the national flag at the police ground in the state capital, he said his government had extended all support to the tribal and local people of Bastar when they launched 'Salwa Judum', which means peace mission in a local dialect, against Naxalite violence.

In Ranchi, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda unfurled the national tri-colour at the Morabadi Ground and said the state is ready to hold the 34th national games in a befitting manner scheduled to be held next year.

He said the state has 37 per cent of the country's total mines and minerals and the government has made serious efforts to create ambience for indutrialisation.

In Rajasthan, state Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje hoisted the tricolur and took the salute at the main function at the Maharana Bhupal Stadium in Udaipur. The main function was for the first time held outside the state capital.

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav hoisted the national flag at the gates of Vidhan Bhawan here to mark the 60th Independence Day.

At a separate function held at the Raj Bhawan, state Governor T V Rajeswar unfurled the tricolour.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Rajeshwar said while Uttar Pradesh has made progress in the field of education, much need to be achieved.

Earlier, Mr Yadav in his address said unity was the biggest tool to achieve all-round development. He said the strength of a prosperous India ties in unity. Mr Yadav also stressed the need to forget personal interests to achieve national goals.

In Patna, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hoisted the tricolour and focussed upon the uplift of the farmers, improvement of the educational scenario and other infrastructure essential to place the state among the developed states by 2015.

He also added officers of the Vigilance Bureau would be directly appointed through Bihar Public Service Commission.

In Bhubaneswar, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hoisted the tricolour and taking salute at a state level parade on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg here and said investment to the tune of Rs four lakh crores in steel, aluminium,power and other sectors is on the anvil with many investors showing keen interest in investment.

He said said implementation of these investment proposals would usher in more revenue generation and create vast employment opportunities.

In Guwahati, Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi unfurled the tricolor here at the Judge's field in the main function.

He took the salute at an impressive march past by the para military forces and Asom Police. During his half- an-hour long speech he focussed on development and reiterated that only peace can bring development.

On the recent fast paced development on the ULFA peace talk issue, Mr Gogoi said despite the continuous violence, the Centre had shown ''exemplary gesture'' by unilaterally announcing suspension of all operations against ULFA.

In Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, speaking at the flag hoisting ceremony organised at Mantralaya, said the government was committed to the security and development of the people and the state.

''The development of the state will continue without any fear and without bothering about the hindrances,'' said Mr Deshmukh The state is facing man-made and natural calamities but the state administration, police and army is doing excellent job to tackle the same, complimented the Chief Minister.

About 23 districts in the state faced flood fury, still the government ''was successful in providing assitance to theflood-affected people'' and evacuated those staying in low-lying areas. Touching upon the sensitive issue of farmers' suicides in Vidarbha, Mr Deshmukh described this as a challange before the government and said the government woud face this challange too.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, unfurling the National Flag at the Chhatrasal Stadium here said infrastructure in capital will be strengthened and the city will get a facelift before the commencement of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, ''The Delhi Government during the last seven years has strived hard to make Delhi a world-class city. This resolve has been further strengthened by selection of Delhi to host the Commonwealth Games 2010, which has provided a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the city's infrastructure to make it a global city,'' Ms Dikshit added.

In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee unfurled the tri-colour in front of state administrative headquarters, the Writers' Building.

State Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi paid floral tributes in front of the Gandhi statue at a central area in the city.

In Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister J D Rymbai unfurled the national flag in the city and urged on the need of peace and stability to achieve economic growth and prosperity of the state.

Braving the 24-hour 'bandh' imposed by Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a number of people participated in Independence Day celebration in the state.

Mr Rymbai advocated a separate trade policy for the North East to facilitate trade and investment between various states in the region to uplift the state economy.

In Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy unfurled the national flag at the Parade Grounds in the city and said his Government was committed to realise Mahatma Gandhi's vision of good governance and Swaraj in each and every village by making sacrifices and overcoming all hurdles in the path of development.

In Kohima, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio addressing a function here, said maintenance of law and order is the top priority of his government and asked the insurgent groups to faithfully abide by the cease-fire ground rules to stop fratricide and bloodshed.

UNI

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