By IANS
Hyderabad : The southern state of Andhra Pradesh Saturday celebrated Republic Day with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm.
Governor N.D. Tiwari led the celebrations by hoisting the tricolour at the official function held at the Parade Ground in Secunderabad. He also reviewed the colourful parade by contingents of the defence forces, police and National Cadet Corps (NCC). The rich cultural heritage of the state was on display in the forms of tableaux by various government agencies.
Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Assembly Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy, ministers and other officials participated in the function held amid tight security arrangements.
In a departure from the routine exercise of reading from a prepared text, the governor spoke extempore, explaining the significance of the day. The veteran leader, himself a freedom fighter, spoke in Hindi and recited a patriotic poem from his student days.
Quoting Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda, Tiwari called on the young generation to imbibe the principles of the great freedom fighters.
Tiwari referred to the rapid strides made by the state in all sectors from irrigation to IT.
“Andhra Pradesh as a knowledge hub is going to make a significant contribution in India’s emergence as a global power in the 21st century,” he said.
The governor also referred to the problem of Maoist violence in the state saying it was a hurdle in the path of progress and development. He pointed out that Naxalbari in West Bengal, where Naxalite movement started, has transformed.
“There is no Naxalism in West Bengal. Naxalism is nothing but extremism and we should defeat extremism in all its forms,” he said.