Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday led the celebrations of country’s 72 Independence Day as he unfurled the Tricolor from the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Paying tributes to the freedom fighters and the armed forces for protecting the national flag, PM Modi said, “On behalf of the people of India, I bow to all those great women and men who sacrificed themselves for the nation during the freedom movement.”
“I salute the Army personnel and other forces who sacrifice their lives to protect India’s national flag,” he said in his the prime minister said in his Independence Day speech.
The chief ministers of various states also joined the Independence Day celebrations in their respective states.
Here’s what the CMs of different states said on the occasion.
Delhi
CM Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday reminded people on the occasion of Independence Day that no religion teaches animosity.
Sharing a couplet from Urdu poet Muhammad Iqbal’s patriotic song “Sare Jahan Se Accha”, Kejriwal wished that there be all around development in the country and peace should prevail.
“Religion does not teach us animosity… We are of Hind, our homeland is Hindustan,” he tweeted.
Tripura
CM Biplab Kumar Deb said his government’s main goal was to make the state “drug free” and ensure efficient and transparent governance.
Deb unfurled the Tricolour for the first time at the main Independence Day function. He became the Chief Minister over five months ago after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in alliance with the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) trounced the Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Front.
“The BJP-IPFT government’s main mission is to deliver efficient and transparent governance. The law enforcing agencies have maximised their insistent efforts to make Tripura a ‘drug free state’, as declared by the BJP government,” Deb said.
“We would implement our pre-poll vision much earlier than the targeted time. By creating various avenues, employment opportunities would be increased to a large extent, specially for the educated job seekers.
“With the curbing of drug-related activities, the state government is keen to diminish the crime against women. Besides, the state government has also taken a series of steps to check these crimes,” the Chief Minister added.
Odisha
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a universal health scheme in the state that will benefit 70 lakh families.
Beneficiaries of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) will get medical assistance of Rs 5 lakh and women will get an additional Rs 2 lakh, he said on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day celebrations here.
Launching the BKSY health coverage at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister described it as “a historic initiative” and said it will have a great impact on state’s health scenario.
Hoisting the national flag at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg here earlier, Patnaik paid homage to freedom fighters and martyrs.
He said the state is giving priority to farmers, women and youths. They are being provided with loan at one per cent interest.
Noting that Odisha has created a new identity, Patnaik announced: “Following the Asian Athletics Championships’s success in Bhubaneswar, the city will host the Hockey World Cup in November. It is a matter of pride for us.”
His ministers took part in the ceremonies held in the districts. There was gaiety and enthusiasm across Odisha amid tight security, especially in the Maoist-hit districts.
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Wednesday the state was on the fast track to ensure inclusive growth.
“A policy was introduced to complete developmental works in a time-bound manner and all departments were entrusted with 100 days of goal so that the government machinery could be geared up for public delivery,” Thakur said in his address at the state-level Independence Day function here in Kangra district.
He said good governance, diversification in agriculture, employment generation, better law and order, housing for all and check on drugs, mining and forest mafia were among the top priorities of the government.
‘Jan Manch’ has emerged as a useful and effective tool of communication and establishment of a direct link with the masses of the state.
“This programme has proved a better medium of providing feedback to the government as well as quick redressal of the people’s grievances,” he added.
Thakur earlier hoisted the national flag and took salute of contingents of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), state police, Home Guards and the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu exhorted the people to join hands with the government for successful implementation of the developmental programmes and policies it has undertaken.
Unfurling the Tricolour in Itanagar on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day, Khandu said the philosophy of his government has been inspired by Deen Dayal Upadhayay’s vision of ‘Antyodaya’, an all-inclusive growth where the government reaches to the last man.
“My dream is to make Arunachal a state where youth are not job seekers but job givers by making the state a centre for entrepreneurship. I wish to make the state the tourist destination of India and to bring the best health facilities,” he said.
Presenting the road map for a developed Arunachal, Khandu said he wants to make it corruption- and crime-free state, an industry-friendly state and a state that is self-reliant in energy.
Jharkhand
Chief Minister Raghubar Das said his government created 31.5 lakh employment and self-employment opportunities and eradicated corruption during his three-and-a-half-year rule.
Unfurling the Tricolour at the Morahbadi ground in Ranchi on the 72nd Independence Day, Das said 1 lakh more job opportunities in the private sector would be provided by the next National Youth Day.
Calling upon people to get rid of communalism, casteism, illiteracy, poverty and unemployment, Das said his government has zero tolerance on corruption and more than 300 people were arrested in corruption cases during the last three and a half years.
Madhya Pradesh
The poor and under-privileged will no longer remain helpless, said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister on Wednesday highlighting housing, electricity and other financial schemes during the Independence Day celebrations.
Hoisting the national flag at the Motilal Nehru Stadium here, Chouhan said: “There will be electricity in each household and each family will have a house. The poor will have access to education and employment.”
No section has been left out under his government’s scheme to build a better state, he added.
The state ministers took part in the events at the district-level.
Meghalaya
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma urged the people of the state to build a progressive and inclusive society for all.
Thousands of people had gathered at the Polo Ground here to witness a ceremonial parade on the occasion of the nation’s 72nd Independence Day. An Indian Air Force helicopter hovered over the sprawling ground showering rose petals.
In his maiden address to the people as the Chief Minister, Sangma said his government was committed to the ideals of peace and prosperity and all round development of the state.
“Peace and prosperity can be ensured only when law and order is maintained. This fundamental aspect of administration has been given utmost priority by my government,” he said.
“One of the focus areas of governance is to maximise agriculture and horticulture potentials and bring all round benefits for all stakeholders. It will generate employment and boost income,” he told the gathering.
Noting that tourism was another priority area, Sangma said: “There is a huge potential for promoting eco-friendly tourism in Meghalaya. Tourism industry has huge potential to create employment for our youth.”
The Chief Minister also vowed to take education to higher levels especially in the rural areas.
Punjab
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced special drives against the drug menace in the state and opening of more rehabilitation centres.
Speaking during Independence Day celebrations organised at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana, the Chief Minister announced the opening of 17 new rehabilitation centres and said that the state police’s Special Task Force (STF) against drugs would enable school students to fight the menace.
Singh unfurled the national flag at the event where more than 2,000 students participated.
“Let’s together vow to free Punjab’s youth from the vice of drugs and unemployment,” the Chief Minister said.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to reducing the burden of farmers’ debt.
Bihar
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said every house had been provided electricity in Bihar.
After hoisting the national flag, Nitish Kumar recalled that he had promised a few years ago that he would not seek votes in the next election if he failed to improve the electricity situation.
“Now every house has been given electricity in the state. We have fulfilled the promise made to the people,” he said in his address at the Gandhi Maidan Patna.
Nitish Kumar added that his government had also fulfilled its pledge to provide 35 per cent reservation for women in government jobs.
And the government had initiated work to provide tap water and electricity to all households, he said.
“We are working with the agenda of development with justice.”
Haryana
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced a slew of incentives for the people of the state, including the ‘Ayushman Bharat-Haryana’ health protection scheme and 24-hour power supply to 507 more villages.
Delivering his Independence Day address, Khattar said dependents of security personnel killed in the line of duty would be given government jobs in ‘Group B’ category based on educational qualifications.
He added that the ‘Rohnat Freedom Trust’ would be set up to work towards uprooting malnutrition, diseases and unemployment from Rohnat village of Bhiwani district.
Speaking after unfurling the national flag, Khattar further announced that government employees would no longer be required to take ‘No Objection Certifications’ (NOCs) from their head of departments before applying for higher posts in other departments.
He said from October 2, every household in the state would have a gas cylinder, and from November 1, the social security pension, including old age allowance, widow pension and pension to physically challenged persons, would be increased from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,000 per month.
Uttarakhand
The BJP government in Uttarakhand has taken a tough stand against corruption to ensure a transformation in the state’s culture, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said on Wednesday.
All these transparent changes would fast track development and governance, Rawat said as he hoisted the national flag at the parade ground during the Independence Day celebrations.
Recalling the sacrifices of freedom fighters, he said: “Uttarakhand is a land of the brave and sacrifice has been our tradition,” amid loud applause and cheer.
He said almost one member from each family in the state was in the armed forces in one capacity or another.
Rawat also detailed the priority sectors of his government and spoke of the many development projects and pro-poor schemes.
He said the GDP of the state has grown six times and the per capita income was more than Rs 16,000.
The Chief Minister said 103 growth centres have been set up in the state spurring development and generating employment in the villages.
(With inputs from agencies)