Summary:
New Delhi, Jan 26 (PTI) The 73rd Republic Day was celebrated across India on Wednesday, albeit scaled down because of Covid curbs, with many chief ministers making pledges such as eradication of unemployment in Haryana in two years and five-day week working system for Chhattisgarh government staffers.Governors and chief ministers extended their greetings to the people on the occasion and called upon them to reaffirm the pledge to uphold the ideals enshrined in the Constitution.Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that below poverty line families will get a subsidy of Rs 25 per litre for up to 10 litres of petrol per month from Wednesday while his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar pledged to eliminate unemployment in his state in the next two years.Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said a scheme will be launched to provide financial aid to the first two daughters of labourers for their education and employment.
He also promised a five-day week working system for state staffers and a hike in the state government"s contribution to the Contributory Pension Scheme from 10 per cent to 14 per cent.Because of the surge in Covid cases, celebrations had to be whittled down by many aspects.The main Republic Day celebration in Odisha was sans public participation, Puducherry decided there would be no "at home reception" at the Raj Nivas, West Bengal held a short programme on the Red Road in the heart of Kolkata, while in Tamil Nadu, the Parade on Marina Beachfront lasted 28 minutes.The observance of the day, when the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950, was, however, not without any gaffe.Kerala Minister Ahamed Devarkovil at Kasaragod unfurled the Tricolour upside down, triggering a row with the BJP accusing him of disrespecting the national flag and demanding his resignation.Later, the minister told reporters that there was no lapse on his side as he had just hoisted the flag when the officials handed him the rope.
He said officials have been asked to conduct an inquiry and stringent steps would be taken against those responsible for the lapse.In Jammu and Kashmir, the national flag was hoisted atop the historic Clock tower in Srinagar"s Lal Chowk, 30 years after veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi did it for the first time.Social activists Sajid Yousuf Shah and Sahil Bashir Bhat along with dozens of supporters organized the flag hoisting ceremony.In his speech at the celebrations held at MA Stadium, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha slammed those inciting the people by spreading "rumours" about "imaginary issues" like demographic changes in the union territory and said land reservation has been done on the pattern of mountainous states.Braving inclement weather, contingents of police and paramilitary forces took part in the event held amid tight security arrangements.
A cultural programme was held after the parade.Internet services on mobile devices were suspended in Kashmir as a precautionary measure, officials said.
However, mobile phone services and internet on fixed lines remained unaffected.In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the people to take a pledge to protect the basic structure of the Constitution."Heartiest greetings to all on Republic Day.
On this day, let us once again take a pledge to protect the basic structure of the Indian Constitution, including and particularly its federal character," she tweeted.Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said his government has laid the foundation for the state to become one of the top 10 states in India in the next 10 years.