The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Celebrating I-Day at the stroke of midnight

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Celebrating I-Day at the stroke of midnight

Special Correspondent

Muslims and RSS hoist the national flag at night

BANGALORE: It may be called a strange coincidence, but a section of Muslims of Bangalore and local leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh celebrated Independence Day at the stroke of midnight on Monday.

At the Russel Market Square, a large group of Muslim youth led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary N.A. Haris burst crackers at the stroke of midnight and sang patriotic songs and distributed sweets to mark the occasion.

Later on Tuesday morning, former the Railway Minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief hoisted the national flag at the same venue even as a gathering, largely hailing from the Muslim community of the Shivajinagar area, turned out to witness it.

In what could be described as an interesting coincidence, several leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamaewak Sangh and Hindu Jagaran Vedike hoisted the Tricolour at the stroke of midnight on Monday.

Sources in the RSS told The Hindu that RSS leader Seetharama Kedilaya hoisted the national flag. Thereafter the national anthem was sung and at a small programme tributes were paid to martyrs.

It is not the first time that the Muslims of Shivajinagar have celebrated Independence Day in this manner.

This programme has been on for nearly a decade and it was mentioned that the brain behind this programme was former Home Minister and Congress leader R. Roshan Baig. However this time, it was Mr. Haris who was in the forefront.

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