Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma hoisted the national flag at Shivaji Park to mark Maharashtra Day here on Friday, even as he paid homage to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement agitation and addressed a gathering at the main official ceremony at Shivaji Park, in Dadar West.
File Photo: IANS
Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma hoisted the national flag at Shivaji Park to mark Maharashtra Day here on Friday, even as he paid homage to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement agitation and addressed a gathering at the main official ceremony at Shivaji Park, in Dadar West.
The 67th Maharashtra Foundation Day on Friday was marked with patriotic fervour as Governor Varma paid homage to 107 martyrs and addressed the gathering at the main official ceremony held in Dadar. His secretary of protocol, Rajesh Gawande, read out the Marathi translation of the Governor’s address.
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Maharashtra Day, observed annually on May 1, is an official state holiday. It marks the formation of the state of Maharashtra in 1960, after a historic agitation known as the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, in which 107 people lost their lives after the police opened fire on agitators demanding the formation of the state of Maharashtra on linguistic lines.
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The historic event was celebrated across the state of Maharashtra with official ceremonies, cultural programmes, and tributes to the contributions of workers and citizens.
As part of the celebrations in Mumbai, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma inspected a ceremonial parade and took the salute from marching contingents, showcasing the discipline and coordination of various state forces.
The parade featured a flag contingent comprising representatives from the State Reserve Police Force, Brihanmumbai Armed Police Force, Brihanmumbai Police Riot Control Squad, Brihanmumbai Armed Women’s Police Force, Mumbai Railway Police, Maharashtra Police, Brihanmumbai Police, Directorate of Maharashtra Fire Services and the Brihanmumbai Fire Brigade.
Additional contingents included the Brihanmumbai Traffic Police, Mumbai Fire Brigade, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Security Force, and the Security Guards Board, accompanied by brass and pipe band performances.
The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawade, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, Director General of Police Sadanand Date, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. The Governor’s wife, Sudha Dev Varma, was also present.
Consuls and honorary consuls of various nations stationed in Mumbai, along with senior officers of the Armed Forces, retired officials from administrative and police services, and citizens, attended the ceremony in large numbers.
Following the ceremony, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma also interacted with dignitaries, including ambassadors, consuls, and senior as well as retired officers, extending his greetings on the occasion of Maharashtra’s Foundation Day.
Marking the occasion, CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the long awaited Mumbai–Pune Expressway ‘Missing Link’ bridge on the 67th anniversary of the foundation of Maharashtra as a linguistic state. He extended greetings to citizens on the occasion and International Workers’ Day through a social media post, highlighting the state’s development vision and prosperity.
Fadnavis highlighted that the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement was not just a political struggle but a mass movement driven by aspirations of millions seeking identity, unity and self-governance. He emphasised that the courage and determination shown by the leaders still continue to inspire generations.
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