JAMMU, Jan 17: Four chairpersons of District Development Councils (DDCs) will not be able to hoist tricolor at the district headquarters during Republic Day celebrations as they have been replaced by the Ministers.
According to the flag hoisting scheduled released by the General Administration Department (GAD), Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will preside over the main function at MA Stadium Jammu and take salute on the Republic Day. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will be the chief guest at the function.
As per the practice before elected Government, the Lieutenant Governor used to hoist tricolor at the MA stadium where main Republic Day function is held while his Advisor took salute at Srinagar. At rest of 18 districts, the DDC chairpersons presided over the main January 26 functions at the district headquarters.
With new Government headed by Omar Abdullah having five Ministers, they will now take salute at five district headquarters, as per the GAD order.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary will preside over the function at Srinagar while Sakina Masood Itoo, Minister for Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare Departments will hoist the tricolor and address the function in Anantnag district.
Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs Departments Javed Ahmed Rana will take salute and preside over the function at Udhampur district.
Similarly, Javid Ahmed Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Election Departments will hoist tricolor at the district headquarters of Baramulla while Satish Sharma, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports and ARI & Training Department will preside over the main function at district headquarters of Kathua.
The GAD order stated that in rest of the district headquarters i.e. 14, the DDC Chairpersons will preside over the function and take salute on the Republic Day.
Udhampur and Kathua districts allotted to the two Ministers for hoisting the tricolor in the Jammu region have the BJP’s chairpersons in the DDCs.
The GAD order further said that the Sub Divisional Magistrates will preside over the Republic Day function at their respective Sub Divisional Headquarters and Tehsildar/ Senior Most Civil Officer will take salute at respective tehsil/block/ Municipal headquarters to be decided by the concerned Deputy Commissioner.
