Republic Day celebrated in US, UK, SA

Washington, Jan 27 (PTI) India's Republic Day was
celebrated in the US, the UK and South Africa, with unfurling
of the tricolour and peace prayers held by the Indian
community in the countries.

The Indian Ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen, unfurled the
tricolour at a function held at Indian Embassy in Washington,
with a large number of community members from in and around
the capital attending the event, at which Indian President
Pratibha Patil's message was read out.

In London, celebration was marked by a special prayer for
peace and prosperity at the centuries-old Westminster Abbey,
one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world.

India's High Commissioner to the UK, Shiv Shanker
Mukherjee and senior officials of the India House were present
at the Church as the 'Evensong', a prayer ceremony, by the Lay
Vicars of Westminster Abbey, was held "for the peace and
prosperity of India, a member of the Commonwealth."

Earlier, Mukherjee unfurled the National Flag at the
India House to commemorate the 60th Republic Day of the
country. The High commissioner read out the President's
address to the nation on the eve of the Republic Day.

At Edinburgh, Scotland, the Republic Day was celebrated
with flag hoisting ceremony at the residence of Ramesh
Chander, Consul General of India.

Greeting and congratulating the Indian community on the
occasion, Chander said it was a matter of satisfaction that
India was on rails in its development efforts but needs to
"guard against fissiparous tendencies and communal divide".

The Association of Indian Organisations and the Scottish
Indian Cultural and Festival Committee, Glasgow handed over a
cheque of 1,000 pounds to the Consul General for the Prime
Minister's National Relief Fund.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, two prominent non-white
politicians called for close bond with India to be maintained
and promoted.

The leader of the ruling ANC in the KwaZulu-Natal
province, Zweli Mkhize; and Mangosuthu Buthelezi, leader of
the Inkatha Freedom Party, were speaking at a India Republic
Day celebrations in the city Monday night.

They were part of more than 600 prominent local leaders
who attended the 60th Republic Day celebrations at the Durban
City Hall organised by the local Indian Consul General, Harsh
Varshan Shringla.

The celebrations were characterised by Indian songs and
classical dances performed by local Indian-origin artists.

Mkhize, who is expected to play a leading role in the
next national government, paid tribute to people of Indian
origin who promoted liberation struggles and were playing role
in the nation's socio, economic and educational development

"India is now strengthening this bond by promoting and
growing our economy in various areas," he said.

Shringla spoke about the growing strong political and
economic relations between India and South Africa.

"Since we celebrated our last Republic Day in 2008,
bilateral cooperation between India and South Africa have
progressed rapidly, manifested by the visits to India of
President Kgalema Motlanthe for India-Brazil-South Africa
Summit in October and President of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, in
July 2008," said Shringla.

He said KwaZulu-Natal has fast become the investment
destination for Indian entrepreneurs, pointing out the
upcoming partnerships with NIIT to train as many as 10,000
youth in IT and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

Some upcoming projects, he said, also involves India's
apex industry association, the CII and the National Small
Industries Corporation, or NSIC, of India. PTI