I Day passes off peacefully in country, celebrated with fervour

New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) 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.

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