Republic Day was celebrated in Bidar on Monday. Umashree, District in-charge Minister, unfurled the national flag and received the guard of honour by the police and other forces. The Minister said that the government was releasing around Rs. 1000 crore to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region for taking up works that were not funded under the annual budget. Of this, Bidar will get around Rs 150 crore in the first phase to take up water and sanitation projects, she said. In Belagavi, Excise Minister and district in-charge Satish L. Jarkiholi unfurled the national flag and witnessed a parade by the police, NCC cadets, Scouts & Guides and school students.
He said the Indian Constitution drafted by B.R. Ambedkar had won global acclaim for being a role model for any democratic set-up. “But, the benefits of democracy has not reached people at the grassroots level because of issues such as superstition and caste-based discrimination,” Mr. Jarkiholi said. Later, he felicitated freedom fighters and sportspersons. Feroz N. Sait, MLA, Sanjay B. Patil, MLA, IGP North Umesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner N. Jayaram, Superintendent of Police Ravikanthe Gowda and City Police Commissioner S. Ravi were present.