Celebrations amidst security

61st Republic Day: Parade, mallakhamba mark the event

Following security alert from the Union government, the Home Department had deployed nearly 1,000 police personnel in and around the venue. As many as 15 platoons of KSRP and three platoons each of Rapid Response Team and City Armed Reserve were on duty. Sixteen closed circuit television cameras were installed at the venue. Governor H R Bhardwaj addressed the gathering from a bullet-proof cabin, after hoisting the National Flag.

People were allowed into the ground only after a thorough frisking. Freedom fighters and VIPs had a tough time to have glimpses of cultural programmes on the Ground as police personnel had cordoned off the entire area.

Subbukrishna, a freedom fighter, expressed his anger against the police. “They invite us for the function but do not let us watch the programme in peace, in the name of security. Why should they invite us?”, he questioned. Photojournalists too had a tough time capturing the events. They were often entering into a verbal duel with the police.

Nearly 2,550 students from various schools presented cultural programmes in the event. The balancing act on Mallakamba presented by the personnel of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment Centre on wooden polls, was the main attraction of the event. They formed images of lotus, camels, ladders and a temple by balancing on the poles. Mallakamba is one of the oldest and popular traditions of the State. It originated from the days of Chatrapathi Shivaji.

Battalions of Armed Forces, KSRP, Fire Services, NCC, Scouts and students of different schools including Ramana Maharshi School for Blind participated in the Republic Day parade. For the first time, a platoon of  Women Home Guards participated in the parade.The team won a prize and was honoured by the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

A salt march

In a unique procession in the City, the Kannada Chaluvali (Vattal) Paksha organised a salt march at the Kempegowda bus stand. In a release, activist Vattal Nagraj has stated that the march was organised in protest against the Government’s failure in arresting the price rise.

Calendar

A patriotic calendar for the year 2010 was released in commemoration of the diamond jubilee celebration by the Rashtra Gaurava Samarakshan Parishath in the City. A cycle rally was also organised by the “Positive Homeopathy” group.