63rd Republic Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor throughout Himachal Pradesh today. Functions were organized at State, District, and Sub-Divisional level to mark the occasion. Hoisting of Flags, impressive march-past, cultural programmes were highlights of the functions organized throughout the State.
State-level function was held at the historic Ridge Maidan, Governor Urmila Singh unfurled the National Flag and took salute at an impressive march-past presented by the contingents of Police, ITBP, Home- Guards, Army Regiments, SSB, NCC and Ex-servicemen, Scouts and NSS. Major Jagmeet Singh 2/8 Gorkha Regiment commanded the parade.
The tableaux exhibited by various Departments were main highlights of the function. Cultural programmes were presented by cultural troupes invited from within and outside the State.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Vidya Stokes, Leader of Opposition in H.P. Vidhan Sabha, Kaul Singh, President, PCC, Suresh Bhardwaj, MLA, Madhu Sood, Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation, Rajwant Sandhu, Chief Secretary, Dr. D.S. Manhas, Director General of Police, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations, leaders of various political parties, Freedom Fighters, prominent persons of the town, Senior Civil, Police and Military Officers were also present on the occasion among others.
Tulsi Ram, Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha presided over the function at Chamba. Speaking on the occasion, he said that Rs. 39.29 crore were spent on various welfare schemes during the last four years in the district for upliftment and welfare of weaker sections of the society. As many as 22,533 persons were getting social security pension and during the tenure of present Government. 4015 new pensioners were also included, he added.
B.K. Chauhan, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, MLAs, Mohan Lal former Minister, Bhupender Chauhan, District BJP President, Gandharav Singh former MLA, Santosh Thakur, Zila Parishad, Chairperson, Anita Thakur, President Municipal Council, Chamba and Sharabh Negi, Deputy Commissioner were also present among others on the occasion.
Gulab Singh Thakur, Public Works Minister presided over the District-Level function at Dharamshala. Prime Minister of Tibetan Government in-Exile, Dr. Lobsang Sangay was Special Guest on the occasion. Earlier, PWD Minister paid floral tribute to the martyrs at Shaheed Smark. A colourful cultural programme was presented on the occasion. Chairperson Zila Parishad, Shreshtha Koundal, Kamla Patial, President, MC Dharamshala and other prominent persons were present on the occasion.
Ishwar Das Dhiman, Education Minister presiding over the District-Level function at Mandi. Dile Ram, MLA and Chairman Finance Commission, Anil Sharma, MLA, Mohan Joshi, Chairman, Milkfed, Ram Swaroop Sharma, Vice-Chairman, Civil Supplies Corporation, Khiramani, Chairman Zila Parishad, Susheela Saunkhala, Chairperson, Nagar Parishad, Kanhaia Lal, former MLA, Devesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner and other prominent persons and senior officers were present on the occasion.
Ravinder Singh Ravi, Irrigation and Public Health Presiding the District Level function at Sujanpur, Hamirpur. Urmil Thakur and Baldev Sharma MLAs, R.S. Mankotia, Chairman, Kangra Central Co-operative Bank, Desh Raj Sharma, District BJP President, Pyare Lal Sharma, State President, Kisan Morcha, Dharmender Sharma, Vice-Chairman Nagar Parishad, M.C. Parmar, Chairman, Ex-servicemen Corporation, Rajinder Singh, Deputy Commissioner, other prominent persons and senior officers were present on the occasion.
Narinder Bragta, Horticulture Minister presided over the District-Level function at Kullu. Khimi Ram, MLA and State BJP President, Dhaneshwari Thakur, Chairperson, State Women Commission, Chandersen Thakur, former MLA, Rishabh Kalia, Chairman, Nagar Parishad, B. M. Nanta, Deputy Commissioner and other prominent and senior officers were present on the occasion.
Ramesh Dhawala, Food and Civil Supplies Minister presided over the District-Level function at Bilaspur. Rajni Sharma, Chairperson, Nagar Parishad, Neena Kaushal, Member Zila Parishad, Kanhaya Lal, Freedom Fighter, Ritesh Chauhan, Deputy Commissioner and other prominent persons were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Rajeev Bindal, Health Minister presiding over the District-Level function at Nahan, Sirmour. Dayal Payari Chairperson Zila Parishad Sirmour, Baldev Tomar District BJP President, Meera Mohanty Deputy Commissioner, freedom fighters and prominent persons of the town were present on the occasion.
Jai Ram Thakur, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister presiding over the District-Level function at Una. Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, Satpal Singh Satti and Virender Kanwar, Gagret MLA, Balbir Singh Chaudhary, HIMFED Chairperson, Santosh Saini, SP Sumedha Dwivedi, Former MP Ranjeet Singh, ADM Rakesh Sharma, SDM Pardeep Thakur, Zila Parishad Chairperson Rani Ranout, Vice-Chairman Avtar Singh, Nagar Parishad Chairperson Mamta Kashyap and former Zila Parishad Chairman Balbir Bagga were also present on the occasion among others.
Mahender Singh Thakur, Transport Minister presided over the District-Level function at Solan. Virender Kashyap, MP, Dr. Rajeev Sehjal MLA Kasauli, Govind Ram Sharma MLA Arki, C. Paul Rasu D.C. Solan and other prominent persons of the area were present among others.
Dr. Sunil Chaudhary, Deputy Commissioner presided over the District-Level function at Reckong-Peo. He detailed out the developmental activities of the area. Tejwant Negi, MLA, Priyanka Negi, Chairperson Zila Parishad, other prominent persons and senior officers were present on the occasion.
Rajeev Shankar, Deputy Commissioner presided over the function at Keylong. Speaking on the occasion Deputy Commissioner said that a plan outlay of Rs. 69 crore has been earmarked for Lahaul Spiti district under Tribal Sub Plan during the current financial year. Out of which 39 crore 3 lacs budget had been allocated for Lahaul Division for various development activities in the area. A colourful culture programme was presented on the occasion Sh. Shyam Nalwas, TAC Member and various prominent persons were also present on the occasion. Republic Day function was also organised at Kaza and Hemis Negi, SDM presided over the function.
