Raje asks people on I-Day to maintain harmony

Vasundhara Raje unfurls the tricolour in Udaipur as Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur is under renovation for ICC trophy in October.

Rajasthan celebrated India's 59th independence anniversary on Tuesday outside the capital, Jaipur, with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje unfurling the tricolour in this city of lakes.

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There was light rain in Udaipur as Raje took the salute at the Maharana Bhupal Stadium amid tight security. She later called upon the people to participate actively in the development process to enable Rajasthan to achieve front-ranking position among the states.

"I want the people of the state to maintain social and communal harmony and to make sincere efforts with the state government for the overall development of the state," she said.

According to the chief minister, during the last three years the state has made tremendous progress, marking a new era of development. And the state government was committed to working on the same developmental trends to take the state to new heights.

She said sound financial management had been a landmark achievement of the state government.

The chief minister also felicitated 16 police personnel for their distinguished service.

The decision to celebrate Independence Day outside Jaipur was not taken very well by some.

Activists of the Nagrik Morcha, who wanted to hoist the flag at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium (SMS) in Jaipur where the function is normally held, protested outside the stadium. But police stopped them from doing so.

The SMS stadium is being renovated for the forthcoming International Cricket Council's Champions Trophy tournament in October.