Rajkot, Aug 14 (IANS) Rajkot witnessed a large public turnout on Thursday as the Rajkot Municipal Corporation organised a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ as part of Independence Day celebrations, with citizens from different sections of society joining the procession carrying the national flag.
The yatra began at 9 a.m. and was flagged off by Rajkot Municipal Corporation Mayor Dr Nehal Shukla and other officials.
It proceeded along Chaudhary High School Road before concluding at Jubilee Garden, where floral tributes were paid to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
The event began at the stage near the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Bahumali Bhavan Chowk, Race Course.
MLAs Bhanu Babariya, Uday Kangad, Dr Darshita Shah and Ramesh Tilala, city BJP president Dr Madhav Dave, Deputy Mayor Daksha Vasani, Standing Committee chairman Paresh Pipaliya, ruling party leader Dr Hiren Khimani, Municipal Commissioner Tushar Sumera, District Collector Dr Om Prakash, Rajkot City Police Commissioner Brajesh Kumar Jha and other officials and public representatives attended the programme.
Representatives of business and industrial associations, religious organisations, NGOs, sports bodies, NSS, NCC, IMA, chemists and druggists’ associations, hotels, restaurants and food vendors also participated.
Students from municipal schools, RMC-run high schools, universities, private schools and trust-run institutions joined the procession along with a large number of residents.
The civic body had arranged the Tricolour on buildings along the Race Course Ring Road and the route between Bahumali Bhavan Chowk and Jubilee Garden.
Cultural performance stages, flag distribution counters, drinking water and medical teams were also arranged along the route. Police personnel, a band and fire brigade teams were deployed for the procession.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Dr Nehal Shukla said the yatra had been organised in continuation of an initiative launched across the country five years ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen national sentiment among citizens.
“On this grand occasion, the people of Rajkot have attended in large numbers and brought pride to Rajkot city,” he said.
The Mayor said patriotic programmes could help the younger generation remain connected with India’s historical heritage and strengthen their sense of national pride.
Referring to the ‘Viksit Bharat’ campaign, he said: “The responsibility of making India a developed nation rested not only with the Prime Minister and Chief Minister but with all citizens.”
Dr Shukla also urged residents not to throw waste in public places, saying collective adherence to cleanliness would help keep Rajkot a beautiful city.
Quoting the line, “Ye aasman ka ishara hai, kal ka ugnewala suraj hamara hai”, he said that with determined and sincere participation by citizens, the goal of a developed India set for 2047 could potentially be achieved earlier.
Before the procession, cultural groups presented raas-garba and tribal dance performances.
Standing Committee chairman Paresh Pipaliya welcomed the gathering, while Social Welfare Committee chairman Manish Bhatt conducted the programme.
The procession concluded at Jubilee Garden after officials and participants paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
–IANS
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