Amid Covid Surge, Republic Day Celebrated Across India

Tricolour hoisted in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk after 30 yrs

NEW DELHI: The 73rd Republic Day was celebrated across the country on Wednesday, albeit scaled down in view of several curbs imposed by different states to reign in the third wave of Covid infections in the country.

Governors and chief ministers extended their greetings to the people the occasion, called upon them to reaffirm the pledge to uphold the ideals enshrined in the Constitution, and made several announcements and promises for the welfare of the public.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar pledged to eliminate unemployment in his state in the next two years while his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren announced that below poverty line families will get a subsidy of Rs 25 per litre for up to 10 litres of petrol per month from Wednesday itself.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said a scheme will be launched to provide financial aid to the first two daughters of labourers for their education and employment. He also promised a fiveday week working system for state staffers and a hike in the state government's contribution to the Contributory Pension Scheme from 10 per cent to 14 per cent. Because of the surge in Covid cases, celebrations had to be whittled down by many aspects.

The main Republic Day celebration in Odisha was sans public participation, Puducherry decided there would be no 'at home reception' at the Raj Nivas, while in Tamil Nadu, the Parade on Marina Beachfront lasted 28 minutes.