Maharashtra celebrated the 70th Independence Day on Monday with joy and patriotic fervour.
School and college students, citizens, politicians, freedom fighters and others enthusiastically participated in scores of colourful events organised across the state.
Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao hoisted the national flag at the main Independence Day function in Pune. He was given a salute by police and security forces contingents, and greeted the people on the occasion.
Another event was held at Mantralaya, the seat of the state government in Mumbai, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hoisted the tricolour, received a salute from security forces and later addressed a gathering.
Fadnavis in his speech recalled the Indian Freedom Movement, services of the freedom fighters and sacrifices of the martyrs, which enabled the country yo earn its freedom from the British rule.
Fadnavis highlighted several schemes launched by the state government to combat drought, unemployment, farmers' suicides, crop losses, female foeticides and crimes against women, cyber crimes etc.
Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar hoisted the national flag at the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters, garlanded statues of various national leaders and addressed the gathering in the presence of Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta and other senior officials.
Western Railway General Manager G.C. Agrawal hoisted the tricolour, inspected a ceremonial parade of the Railway Protection Force while Central Railway General Manager Akhil Agarwal hoisted the national flag and took the salute of RPF contingent at their respective headquarters.
Schools and colleges in Mumbai also organised Independence Day functions with flag-hoisting, march-pasts and parades in which millions of students participated.
Various political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and others, as well as their affiliated youth and students wings also organised celebrations.
The Independence Day was joyously celebrated in all districts across the state with the participation of guardian ministers, local elected representatives, students, youths and citizens comprising members of all communities.
In Nagpur, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat unfurled the national flag, took the salute from swayamsevaks at the RSS headquarters and later addressed its activists.
Other public and private Independence Day functions were held in malls, housing societies, corporate and other central and state government buildings.
Since Sunday night, major government buildings like the railways headquarters, Mantralaya, BSE Building, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport terminals and other prominent public landmarks were illuminated in the colours of the national flag, presenting an ethereal spectacle savoured by millions.
The Maharashtra Police maintained tight security measures in all cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, and other major towns to ensure a peaceful Independence Day across the state.
--IANS
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