Politicians celebrate 62nd Independence Day

New Delhi, Aug 15 : The ruling Congress party as well as the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the country's 62nd Independence Day on Friday.

At the Congress headquarters in Delhi, party President Sonia Gandhi unfurled the tricolour.

After addressing the nation from the ramparts of historic Red Fort to mark the Independence Day, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh attended the celebrations.

BJP members gathered at the residence of Leader of Opposition and senior party leader L.K. Advani for the celebrations.

Speaking to reporters, Advani said the country needed to undo the disgrace that has been brought upon it by the controversial land shrine row in which at least 27 people have been killed since June.

"I am happy that the happenings in J-K and especially the Amarnath controversy found a place in the Prime Minister's speech but I would have been happier if a resolution had been expressed to do something about the disgrace that has befallen our country," said Advani.

In Jammu, a Hindu-dominated region in Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir state, thousands of people have been protesting against the revocation of the order to transfer about 100 acres (40 hectares) of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

The dispute began after the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered the transfer of forestland to the Trust that runs Amarnath, a cave shrine visited by Hindu pilgrims. But Muslims in Kashmir were enraged.

The government then backed down on its decision. Many Hindus, in turn, were angered.

ANI