I-Day at Golconda celebrated with pomp & fervour

Hyderabad: Telangana State government organised 68th Independence Day celebrations on a grand scale at historic Golconda Fort on Friday. The open lawns in front of Rani Mahal, where the fete was held, was packed to the hilt with general public besides politicians and VVIPs making a beeline to catch the glimpse of first such fete organised inside Golconda.

Artistes from across the Telangana region besides drummers, who stood on barbicans, were cynosure of everyone’s eyes. They enthralled the crowd with traditional performances and the whole arena reverberated with sounds of their drumbeats.

Meanwhile, Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and police atop the Fort kept a close watch holding large binoculars.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was received by horse-mounted police at the entrance who led his convoy inside the Fort. He later unfurled the tricolour from a big rostrum that was erected beside Taramati mosque. Soon after school children released tricoloured balloons bringing loud cheer from the crowd.

After receiving the guard of honour, KCR made a 23-minute speech on his government’s decisions and priorities. He then distributed police medals and presented cheques to sportspersons and coaches for excelling in international meets. Mount Everest conquerors Malavath Poorna and S Anand Kumar got a standing ovation from the gathering when Chief Minister presented them with Rs 25 lakh cheques.

Assembly Speaker Madhusudhana Chary, Legislative Council Chairman Swamy Goud, Deputy CM Mahmood Ali, Home Minister Naini Narasimha Reddy, Nizamabad MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha, MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, GHMC Mayor Majid Hussain were among others who attended the programme. Earlier, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes at martyrs stupa at Parade Grounds.