Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 25 : The 66th Republic Day was celebrated at Bagh-e-Bahu here today with tremendous enthusiasm and fervour by the Jammu and Kashmir Batwal Welfare Association. Most of the attendees were Govt. employees and retired defence personnel who had witnessed a series of incidents in the history of India's freedom struggle, attainment of independence, and eventually the formation of Indian Constitution, making India a republic. Speaking on the occasion, the Association General Secretary RL Kaith said even though India obtained freedom on August 15, 1947, Indian Constitution came into effect only on January 26, 1950. King George VI, the last and only "King" of the modern India, was leading our state during the evolution period from 1947 to 1950. Lord Mountbatten and C. Rajagopalachari were serving as the Governors-General of India at that time. Afterwards Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of India on January 26, 1950. With this, the Parliament officially approved the Constitution of India and declared itself as a 'Republic' on January 26, 1950, a date thereafter celebrated every year as Republic Day in India. Association Advisory Committee Chairman GR Kaith further said that the factors of instability have grown in the recent past. Pakistan and terrorists seek to destabilize the unity and harmony of the people of India but they will never win. Our security and armed forces, backed by the steel of popular support, have proved that they can crush an enemy within with as much felicity as they guard our frontiers. |