Mumbai: Pomp, pageantry and patriotic fervor marked the 71st Republic Day celebrations with the participation of lakhs of people in Mumbai and across Maharashtra on Sunday.
The main official state function was held at the Shivaji Park where Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari led the state by unfurling the national Tricolour and then took the salute at a ceremonial parade.
Present on the occasion were Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his wife Rashmi Thackeray, Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar, Speaker Nana Patole, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar, ministers, officials, diplomats, members of the armed corps stationed in Mumbai, prominent citizens, students and other invitees.
Addressing the gathering in Marathi, Governor Koshyari announced the launch of the state government’s ambitious Rs 10 per meal ‘Shiv Thali’ scheme for the poor in the state. He stressed the state government’s commitment to make the farmers debt-free and speed up development in the state.
Various units of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, CISF, State Reserve Police Force, Mumbai Armed Police, Mumbai Women Police, Mumbai Fire Brigade, Sea Cadet Corps, Road Safety Patrol, Bharat Scouts and Guides and others took part in a smart and colourful march past.
Eye-catching floats of various government departments and other branches were avidly watched by the enthusiastic gathering.
The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress organized R-Day functions across the state with all top leaders in attendance.
The NCP held the functions in Mumbai with party MP Supriya Sule unfurling the Tricolour and top leaders present, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar attended an event in Pune.
The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) and the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee also organised programmes at their respective headquarters in Mumbai.
The MRCC event at Azad Maidan saw top party leaders such as Eknath Gaikwad and others unfurling and saluting the national flag, while the MPCC event saw senior Congress leader C. Vamshi Reddy unfurl the Tricolour in the presence of a large number of other leaders.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party also organized several functions across the state attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur, leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, State unit chief Chandrakant Patil, ex-state ministers and others in different districts.
A R-Day function was held at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur where senior leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi unfurled the Tricolor and took the salute.
Western Railway General Manager Alok Kansal, Central Railway General Manager Sanjeev Mittal and Konkan Railway Chairman-cum-Managing Director Sanjay Gupta unfurled the Tricolour at their respective headquarters in colourful functions.
Big and small functions were also held in various government buildings, private companies, schools and colleges campuses, housing complexes, social organisations, and at various district collectorates across the state.
Prominent landmarks and important buildings such as Mantralaya, the BMC headquarters, the Western Railway and Central Railway HQ, the Siddhivinayak Temple and the Vitthal Temple.
The state and city police had deployed tight security all over Maharashtra to ensure incident-free celebrations.
