Kerala - Kollam   

Call to sustain secular tradition

Staff Reporter

Colourful Independence Day celebrations in Kollam, Pathanamthitta

NATIONAL CEREMONY: Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan inspecting a guard of honour at the Independence Day celebrations in Kollam on Tuesday; (right) Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran, taking the salute at the parade in Pathanamthitta on Tues day.

KOLLAM: A colourful ceremony which began at 8.15 a.m. on Tuesday marked the Independence Day celebrations organised by the District Administration at the Lal Bahadur Stadium. Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan was the chief guest. He inspected the guard of honour and took the salute of the Independence Day parade.

Personnel from the police and the Armed Reserve Camp and cadets from the National Cadets Corps and the Scouts and Guides took part in the parade. There was a captivating physical training display by students of a lower primary school.

In his Independence Day address, Mr. Gurudasan said that the secular traditions of the nation could be maintained only if majority and minority communalism along with terrorism was successfully opposed. To attain that a sustained and systematic awareness campaign was required, he said .

The freedom movement had guided the reformation movement and the latter had made valuable contributions to the country. All the people of the country were duty-bound to protect the independence and secular traditions of the nation. "We have to remain committed to a democracy based on social justice," he said.

Colourful celebration

Our Pathanamthitta Staff Correspondent reports:

The Independence Day was celebrated at the District Stadium here with national fervour on Tuesday.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran hoisted the national flag at the district Stadium at 8 a.m.

The Minister also inspected a guard of honour presented by the police, excise and fire services personnel and the National Cadets Corps and the Scouts and Guides at the stadium, later.

K. Sivadasan Nair, MLA; District Collector Ashok Kumar Singh; Superintendent of Police M.N. Jayaprakash; district panchayat president Appinazhakathu Santhakumari; and Additional District Magistrate B. Mohanan were present.

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