Independence Day Celebration across the Country displayed the Pride, Might and Respect for Indian Sovereignty. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unfurled Tiranga at Red Fort. Â The Independence Day function at Red Fort, the centrepiece of the country’s celebrations, went off without a hitch despite Rain predictions
Due to security reasons, police had not allowed umbrellas inside the venue – cause for much concern for those gathered to hear Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deliver his address to the nation. But there was no rain, despite the overcast skies.
Clearly, apart from security personnel, school children and organisers, there was an invisible force contributing to the success of celebrations.
Bihar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hoisted the national flag here on Independence Day Wednesday and demanded a special category status for Bihar for its development.
“Bihar is developing fast. Last year our growth rate was more than 16 percent but it is high time the central government should help the state by giving it a special category status,” he said.
The chief minister made the demand at the Gandhi Maidan Patna
He said the pace of Bihar’s economic development will increase if it got a special category status.
Nitish Kumar said Bihar was lagging behind on several fronts.
He said without New Delhi’s help, it would take nearly 25 years for Bihar to touch the national average of economic growth.
“Bihar’s per capita income and investment is lowest in the country. Bihar lags behind in all human resource indexes,” he said.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra celebrated Independence Day in a sombre mood amid flag hoisting ceremonies and singing of national anthem at most places in the state.
The celebrations were subdued and kept low key due to the death of union minister and former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh Tuesday.
In Mumbai, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan hoisted the tricolour at the state secretariat Mantralaya.
Governor K. Sankaranarayanan unfurled the national flag at Council Hall in Pune. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, socialist Dr. Mohan Dharia and legislators were also present.
Schools and colleges in Mumbai and other towns also hoisted the national flags and celebrated the day with patriotic fervour.
Members of housing societies also marked the day by unfurling the tricolour.
Meghalaya
The Independence Day celebrations in Meghalaya were marred by a shutdown called by a militant group, which affected life in the state.
The shutdown was called by outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
The HNLC, which conducts hit-and-run raids from its hideouts in Bangladesh, wants a sovereign Khasi homeland in the state.
In capital Shillong, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma unfurled the national flag and took the salute at a ceremonial parade.
“The government will continue to follow its policy of zero tolerance to criminal activity by any group,” Sangma said.
Congratulating the people for taking a tough stand against militancy, he said: “I firmly believe that it is the strong will of the people that will enable the government in eradicating the menace of insurgency from the state.”
Urging the insurgents to surrender and join the fight against hunger and poverty rather than playing into the hands of anti-national elements, Sangma said: “Our government has kept an open mind in dealing with militant outfits. I am aware that a number of our young men are drawn into these outfits under compelling situations.”
Jammu and Kashmir
The time to remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) hasn’t come, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said  as the Kashmir Valley observed a shutdown on India’s Independence Day.
“Talks on AFSPA are going on. I regret that so far we have not reached a stage when AFSPA can be removed permanently. Talks are still going on, and I am satisfied with these talks,” he said.
“I can say with surety that the revocation of AFSPA will take place during our tenure in office,” he said.
The main Independence Day parade was held at the Bakshi Stadium here amid extensive security arrangements.
Abdullah unfurled the national flag and took the salute at the parade in which police contingents, paramilitary forces, fire and emergency services, and school children participated.
He urged the separatists to give up violence and join the dialogue process for the overall development of the state.
Neither violence nor development would resolve the Kashmir problem, he said.
It needed to be resolved politically. For that, it was important that all stakeholders joined the process of dialogue and reconciliation, he said.
Referring to his stand on AFSPA, Abdullah said: “To a large extent, militancy related incidents have come down over the years in the state.
“It is our endeavour to reduce the footprints of the security forces in the state. I can say with pride that all schools have been vacated by the security forces. (250) other buildings occupied by security forces have also been vacated.
“More than 40 bunkers have been removed from Srinagar. Perhaps, nobody hoped we could remove the bunker from Lal Chowk. Ten battalions of CRPF have already been de-inducted and sent back.
“We are slowly implementing the rehabilitation of those who want to return (from Pakistan) without guns and the policy is producing encouraging results. This policy is only for those who return not to join militancy but live peacefully,” he said.
Independence Day parades and cultural programmes were held in various districts of the Kashmir Valley.
Separatists had called a shutdown across the valley.
Few public and private vehicles were seen on the city’s roads Wednesday morning. Police and paramilitary forces in full riot gear were deployed in the city.
Tripura
Surrendered militants, separatist outfits and a section of the opposition are conspiring to revive militancy in Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said Wednesday .
“Although the Bangladesh government is pro-active to flush out base camps of northeast militants, efforts are on to send tribal youths across the border to take arms training,” Sarkar said after unfurling the tricolour at the Assam Rifles ground here.
“Though terrorism has been tamed in Tripura, a section of political leaders are trying to revive it to get political mileage. These political forces are also using surrendered terrorists,” he said in his speech to mark India’s Independence Day.