It turned out to be a Republic Day with a difference in Tamil Nadu. The 68th Republic Day celebration in the State will go down in history as the first occasion in the history of Tamil Nadu when the Chief Minister hoisted the National Tricolour instead of Governor.
Since the Centre is yet to appoint a full time Governor to Tamil Nadu, the honour of hoisting the national tricolour and receiving the salute from the contingent of armed forces fell on Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. C Vidyasagar Rao, Governor Of Maharashtra, who is holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu governor, hoisted the national tri colour in Mumbai.
The Republic Day in Chennai was held amidst unprecedented security following the six day agitation at the Marina Beach by a section of the population demanding the lifting of the Supreme Court ban on Jallikkattu. Though the State government had promulgated an ordinance for the smooth conduct of the ritual, the demonstrators had refused to disperse from the Beach necessitating police action on Monday.
In the backdrop of reports that anti-national and anti-social elements may try to disrupt the Republic Day proceedings, a heavy posse of police had been posted in the venue and only people with valid passes and invitation cards were allowed near Gandhi Statue in Marina.
The main attraction in this year’s Republic Day was the float presented by Southern Railway. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, accorded the status of a cultural heritage by the United Nations, was the cynosure of all eyes even as it moved along the parade in the backdrop of the distinct whistling and fut..fut sound of the steam engine. Steam engines manufactured at Golden Rock Railway workshop, Tiruchirappalli are the ones which operate in the Mettupalayam-Nilgiri stretch which draw many tourists.