L-G flags off ‘tiranga rallies’ in Srinagar: J&K marching towards brighter future

The main event was held along the Dal Lake in Srinagar. Hundreds of people walked over a kilometre from the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) to the Botanical Garden, raising slogans like “Jhanda hamara ooncha rahega (our flag will fly high)”.

A large number of UT administration officials , security personnel, BJP workers, besides students and civilians took part in the ‘walkathon’.

Flagging off the event, Sinha said: “I wanted to give advance greetings of Independence Day… Not only the administration (staff) and (security) forces (personnel), but a large number of people, not only from Srinagar but also from other parts of the Valley, actively took part in it.”

“A I think that the people have understood that everyone should respect and protect the Tricolour,” he added, reminding that a similar yatra was held last year as well.

An official statement issued later said the L-G also administered the pledge to fulfil the “Panch Pran” — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘5 promises’ for the next 25 years — to public representatives, officials and citizens at SKICC.

“Together, J&K is marching towards a brighter future. People from all walks of life are working with one resolve — to shape the future of J&K and contribute to the journey of ‘Viksit Bharat’. All are united by emotion — may our beloved and victorious Tricolour fly high in the world,” the statement quoted the L-G as saying.

A few kilometres away from SKICC, Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High court, Justice Kotishwar Singh, flagged off a rally from the court complex to Lal Chowk. The CRPF also held a bike rally from Lal Chowk to the Nishat gardens. Similar rallies were organised by the district administrations in parts of central, south and north Kashmir.

In Jammu’s Doda town, hundreds of people, including students and government employees, took part in a rally, which was flagged off by Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan along with SSP Abdul Qayoom.

In a similar rally in the adjoining Kishtwar district, a large number of elected public representatives, civil society members, officials, students, prominent citizens and traders took part.

Starting from the district headquarters, the participants sang patriotic songs and chanted slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Vande Matram” and “Hindustan Zindabad” as the rally passed through the town before culminating at the Bus Stand area.

Similar rallies were also held in Poonch and Rajouri districts in the Pir Panjal region, which have seen a spurt in incidents of militancy-related violence in the past two years.

In Reasi, the district administration also hoisted the Tricolour at the railway bridge.

Meanwhile, security has been strengthened across the Jammu division, especially the areas falling along the International Border and the Line of Control with Pakistan.