The 71st Independence Day was celebrated with fervour across Hubballi and Dharwad with the tricolour being hoisted on various government office premises and at schools and colleges and other venues, including the controversial Idgah Maidan adjacent to Kittur Chennamma Circle.
As per the Supreme Court order, Municipal Commissioner Major Siddalingayya Hiremath hoisted the National Flag at the Idgah Maidan and addressed a small gathering. He emphasised the need for remembering one’s responsibility and duties towards one’s nation. Mayor D.K. Chavan, Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi, MLA Prasad Abbayya and several councillors attended the Independence Day celebrations at the Idgah Maidan, where elaborate security arrangements had been made. Subsequently, Mr. Chavan garlanded the statue of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna at Brindavan Circle as Independence Day coincides with the birth anniversary of Sangolli Rayanna.
As per tradition, Mr. Chavan hoisted the flag during the Independence Day celebrations at the headquarters of the municipal corporation in Hubballi, while Deputy Mayor Lakshmibai Bijawad hoisted the tricolour at the corporation’s Dharwad head office.
At the taluk-level Independence Day celebrations at Nehru Maidan in Hubballi, Tahsildar Shashidhar Madyal elaborated on the freedom struggle and remembered freedom fighters from Hubballi Moorusavirappa Gangappa Ichageri and Narayana Doni and others.
Mr. Madyal also spoke about the various government schemes and the progress made so far in the implementation of the schemes and projects.
Presiding over the function, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar emphasised on the need to implement government schemes effectively. He said that it had been decided to convince the Goa Chief Minister to come to the discussion table on the Mahadayi issue.
Freedom fighter Vishnu Panth Shindhe, retired tahsildar G.R. Sheelvanth, recipient of President’s Medal Police Inspector Maruti Gullari and national-level badminton player Guru Vasanth were felicitated.
MLA Prasad Abbayya gave away laptops to meritorious students. Elected representatives, including Mr. Chavan, MP Pralhad Joshi, MLC Pradeep Shettar, and several councillors of the municipal corporation took partAcross the twin cities, after the celebrations in schools, children headed to the taluk and district level celebrations at Nehru Maidan in Hubballi and the R.N. Shetty Stadium in Dharwad, respectively.
