New Delhi's Red Fort reached Fort Knox-level security, as India celebrated 70 years of independence. While different programmes were organised across the country, the main celebration like always, was held in the Capital. India put its cultural and military prowess on display, which was witnessed by thousands present, and others on television.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tri-colour and gave his third Independence Day speech which hit a few nerves in neighbouring Pakistan. States like Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Odisha flaunted their cultures, and over a 100 stalls were put up showing handicrafts of different states.
PM supports the demands of people of Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK
In Modi's third Independence speech, he mentioned Balochistan, attracting immediate angry remarks from Islamabad. Around seven years after an India-Pakistan joint statement mentioned the region, Modi put it right back on the agenda, pointing his finger at Pak for its human rights violation. He said, "Today, I want to especially honour and thank some people from the ramparts of the Red Fort. For the past few days, the people of Balochistan, people of Gilgit, people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the way their citizens have heartily thanked me, the way they have acknowledged me, the goodwill they have shown towards me, people settled far across, the land which I have not seen, people I have not met ever, but people settled far across acknowledge the Prime Minister of India, they honour him, so it is an honour of my 1.25 billion countrymen, and that is why, owing to the feeling of this honour, I want to heartily thank the people of Balochistan, people of Gilgit and people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for having an expression of thankfulness."
Islamabad was almost immediate to react, saying this "only proves Pakistan's contention that India, through its main intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing, has been fomenting terrorism in Balochistan." Modi's statements come as a retort to Pak's strategy of bringing international attention to the situation in Kashmir. The neighbouring country has steadily on and off poked India over the never-ending Kashmir issue. Meanwhile, India has rarely raised the human rights situation in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan. India has made at least two public statements calling out the Pakistani military operations against Balochs, and expressed its concern on the "spiralling violence" in the region.
Other than irking fellow nations, Modi's speech said his government was committed to attain swaraj. "March from self-governance to good-governance is a resolve of entire nation, it will need sacrifices. There was a time when the government was shrouded by allegations, but now the government is surrounded by expectations." He said swarajya is about empowering citizens and improving their quality of life, and that his government was committed to bring that change to every citizen of the country.
The celebration also saw several awards conferred to heroes, some posthumously. Havildar Hangpan Dada, the man who killed three heavily armed terrorists single handedly in an encounter in Kashmir before succumbing to his wounds last May, was given India's highest gallantry honour, the Ashok Chakra. Lt Col Niranjan of National Security Guards' bomb disposal unit and Corporal Gursevek Singh who gave away their lives during the terrorist strike on the Pathankot airbase in January, were among the 14 awardees of the Shaurya Chakra.
Other awardees of the Shaurya Chakra posthumously are Capt Tushar Mahajan (9 Para-SF), Capt Pawan Kumar (10 Para-SF), Naib Subedar Kankara V Subba Reddy (44 Rashtriya Rifles), Naik Shinde Shankar Chandrabhan (41 Rashtriya Rifles) and Lance Naik Om Parkash (9 Para-SF), Major Rahul Dev Singh (3 Rashtriya Rifles), Capt Gaurav Sharad Jadhav (36 Rashtriya Rifles), Capt Elisen Y Jami (12 Para-SF), Naik Bir Singh (21Para-SF), sepoy Hari Chettri (9 Rashtriya Rifles), Atu Zumvu (sub-divisional police officer, Nagaland) and Kukudapu Srinivasulu (police constable, Telangana).
This year's Independence Day saw two unsung heroes getting credit for their role in intensive counter-terrorism operations. Two and a half year old Belgian Malinois Rocket received an award for his work during the Pathankot airbase terrorist attack, and four year old Labrador Mansi was honoured for giving her life along with handler Bashir Ahmed War, to prevent infiltration bid by terrorists in north Kashmir. Mansi was given a 'Mention in Dispatches' certificate, while Rocket was awarded the Chief of Army Staff's commendation.
Optimum Security at Red Fort
The Independence Day celebration at the Fort was undertaken amid tight vigil that was maintained across New Delhi on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Indian independence from British rule. Over 12,000 police officers, and several companies of paramilitary forces were deployed in a multi-layer security that ran in and around the Mughal fort. "Adequate security arrangements have been made for the Independence Day celebrations and other national celebrations in New Delhi, especially at the Rajpath and other adjoining areas. We also have provided fool-proof security for the ongoing 'Bharat Parv' from August 12-18, along the Rajpath," said deputy commissioner of police Jatin Narwal.
He added, "We have installed frisking booths and anti-sabotage checkpoints at various places. We are trying to ensure that people enjoy the events by keeping all the security arrangements intact." a special team of 400 NSG snipers and commandos formed the inner layers of the security cordon, anti-aircraft guns were deployed to filter aerial intrusion by drones and projectiles, and guards stood at over 605 balconies and 104 windows that open towards the Red Fort. At least 25 cops at a control outside the venue monitored live feed running from 600 different CCTV cameras. Dog squads were sent in five times for thorough checks.
In additional measures, city borders were sealed, the area over Red Fort was a no-fly zone during the celebrations, and points like Parliament complex, international airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, and Metro stations were flanked with high security. Pitching in, the traffic police restricted traffic movement and were under orders to report anything slightly suspicious. During the celebrations, Joint commissioner of police, Garima Bhatnagar said, "Detailed traffic deployment will be in place to facilitate the movement of VIP vehicles, invitees and the general public. Public are requested not to touch any suspicious object. They are requested to immediately report about the presence of any suspicious movements... to the nearest policeman."
Also covered is the seven-day-long cultural festival 'Bharat Parv'.
