Mumbai, Aug 15 (PTI) Maharashtra celebrated the 80th Independence Day on Saturday with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat hoisting the national flag at separate events.
Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar hoisted the national flag in Thane and Beed districts, respectively.
Bhagwat hoisted the tricolour at the RSS headquarters in the morning and later hoisted a 200-foot-high national flag erected by the Lokmat Media Group in Nagpur in collaboration with the municipal corporation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray hoisted the tricolour outside Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party headquarters, at midnight. NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde hoisted the tricolour at the party office in Ballard Estate.
Addressing a gathering after hoisting the national flag at Mantralaya, Fadnavis said Maharashtra is an important contributor to India’s development and the government is working to ensure that every district becomes a “growth engine”.
He said Maharashtra will play the most important role in India’s journey towards becoming a “Viksit Bharat.
Fadnavis added that Maharashtra leads the country on the economic front and has recorded 8.8 per cent growth in the first half of the year.
Addressing a gathering at Sangh headquarters in Nagpur, Bhagwat urged people to strengthen the nation without compromising on core principles and confront challenges to make it a guide to the world.
Uddhav Thackeray said the country has awakened, an apparent reference to youth protests, asserting that no one can snatch citizens’ freedom despite multiple attempts.
“No one can snatch our freedom despite multiple attempts. This is because we will not be slaves of either insider or outsider. We are giving this message to those for whom it is intended,” said Thackeray, who had extended Sena (UBT)’s support to protesting youths in New Delhi and Mumbai.
The former Maharashtra CM said the country has woken up, and no one will try to touch our Constitution or freedom.
Cockroach Janta Party convenor Abhijeet Dipke marked Independence Day by launching the ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign from his native village in Hingoli district, alleging that poor students suffered due to the government’s neglect and demanded capping of fees of private schools.
The CJP will also undertake a similar movement regarding poor health conditions at public hospitals.
Dipke travelled to his native village, Santuk Pimpri, and attended a flag hoisting ceremony. PTI PR AW MR CLS NSK
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