Kerala on Thursday celebrated the nation’s 67th Independence Day with gaiety, enthusiasm and patriotic fervor. The main function was held at the Central Stadium
in State capital Thiruvananthapuram where Chief Minister Oommen Chandy unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute at a march past by personnel from the various forces.
Greeting Keralites on the occasion of the Independence Day, Chandy said that unnecessary controversies and agitations were hampering the State’s development. Without making any direct reference to the Opposition lDF’s recent Secretariat siege over the infamous solar scam, Chandy said it was high time everyone introspected about the usefulness of such agitations.
He said that development in the State’s industrial and agricultural sectors were necessary for the growth of the State. It was impossible for Kerala to survive merely on the money repatriated by non-resident Keralites which was presently the backbone of the State’s economy, he added.
Independence was celebrated at all main centres, district headquarters, educational institutions, offices of political parties, Government institutions, etc in the State. School students, forces like the police and Fire Force, NCC, Scouts and Guides and other establishments and others held Independence Day parades.
Chandy’s Cabinet colleagues led the celebrations at the district headquarters. At Kottayam, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan unfurled the national flag while
Finance Minister KM Mani took the salute at Kochi (Ernakulam district). In Kozhikode, Urban Development Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali led the celebrations.
The Southern Naval Command headquartered at the Naval Base, Kochi, celebrated the Independence Day with a ceremonial parade reviewed by Vice-Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Command.
Before the start of the celebrations, he paid floral tributes at the memorial for departed soldiers. The ceremony at the Naval Base assumed poignancy in the context of the tragic accident on board the submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, the other day. Addressing the ceremonial parade, Vice Admiral Soni reminded the audience of the great sacrifices made by the nation’s forefathers to secure freedom.