Mohammad Inayat (45) had come all the way from Ompora, Budgam to witness the Independence Day function today at Bakshi Stadium, where Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the chief guest and unfurled the national flag.
Inayat was not alone. Hundreds and hundreds of people from across Srinagar and its adjoining districts had converged at the Bakshi Stadium to participate in “one of the colourful and biggest” Independence Day functions in the state.
“It has always been my wish to witness the Independence Day celebration here. This year I got a chance to come and have brought my family along,” Inayat told KNS. “It was good to watch the colourful cultural programmes and daredevil performances by police and paramilitary personnel.”
Riyaz Ahmad, another participant, said he had come only to listen to Mufti Sayeed’s first Independence Day speech. Pertinently this was Mufti Sayeed’s first I-D function as CM after he took over reins of the state in March this year. “We have full faith on Mufti Sahib’s vision and leadership. He will do wonders for the state. I wish his desire to see Jammu and Kashmir as a model state comes true,” he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The function at Bakshi Stadium which saw the artists of Cultural Academy, Information Department and various schools presenting a colourfull bonanza of cultural items and police personnel presented various acrobatic activities on bikes, was attended not only by a good gathering of people but also by a galaxy of VIPs and VVIPs.
Begum Mufti Sayeed, Chairman Legislative Council, Haji Inayat Ali, Former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Ministers of State, Mohammad Ashraf Mir and Asiya Naqash, Member Parliament, Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey, DGP K Rajendra Kumar other dignitaries, officers and large number of people were also present.
Omar and Mehbooba who were sitting next to each other were seen engaged in jovial conversation. The body language of the two leaders was giving an impression as if they had given up their political rivalry for a moment and were enjoying the performances presented by cultural groups, school children and police personnel.
An officer who takes part in the I-D celebration every year said that this year’s function was exemplary as the participation of people was much higher as was seen in past many years.