A large number of people from different sections of society participated in a Tiranga Yatra organised by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) on Thursday as part of Independence Day celebrations.
The procession began at 9 a.m. after it 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 Mahatma Gandhi.
The programme began near the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Bahumali Bhavan Chowk in the Race Course area.
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 and Rajkot City Police Commissioner Brajesh Kumar Jha were among those present.
Representatives of business and industrial associations, religious organisations, NGOs, sports bodies, NSS, NCC, the Indian Medical Association, 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 decorated buildings along the Race Course Ring Road and the route between Bahumali Bhavan Chowk and Jubilee Garden with the Tricolour. Cultural performance stages, flag distribution counters, drinking water facilities and medical teams were arranged along the route, while police personnel, a band and fire brigade teams were deployed.
Addressing the gathering, Shukla said the yatra was part 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 younger generations remain connected with India’s historical heritage and strengthen their sense of national pride.
Referring to the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’, Shukla said the responsibility of making India a developed nation rested not only with the prime minister and chief minister but with all citizens.
He also urged residents to avoid littering in public places, saying collective efforts towards cleanliness would help keep Rajkot a beautiful city.
Quoting the line, “Ye aasman ka ishara hai, kal ka ugnewala suraj hamara hai”, Shukla said determined and sincere participation by citizens could help India achieve its 2047 development goal even 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 with officials and participants paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
(IANS Inputs)
