Observing that ‘Viksit Bharat’ cannot go ahead without ‘Viksit Kerala,’ Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Sunday (January 26, 2025) said that standing united and working together are the ways to take the southern State’s development forward.
Addressing the 76th Republic Day celebrations at the Central Stadium in the morning, Mr. Arlekar said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has a vision for the State and understands the need for the State’s development. “Differences,” he said, will be sorted out by “sitting together.”
“Because we are human beings, differences ought to be there. We are not artificial things but live human beings. Differences can be sorted out by sitting together. That is what we have envisaged and that is how we will be marching (forward),” Mr. Arlekar, who had taken over as Kerala Governor on January 2, said.
Mr. Arlekar’s remarks gain significance when viewed in the context of the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s openly acrimonious relations with his predecessor Arif Mohammed Khan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also present at the Republic Day event.
Drawing on the concept of ‘Simhavalakona,’ Mr. Arlekar appealed to the people of Kerala to use the Republic Day to introspect – as a moving lion looks back and then forward – to see how far the State has travelled and what direction it needs to go. Kerala should set models for other States, he said.
“The makers and writers of our Constitution such as Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had a vision as to what this country should be like, how the people will be and what should be the direction of the country’s development,” he said.
Occasions such as the Republic Day offer opportunities to reaffirm our commitment to take forward their vision and the culture and ethos of the nation, he said. “The country is going ahead. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are dreaming of ‘Viksit Bharat,’ what we want to achieve in the next 20-25 years. That is what we have to introspect on,” he said.
On his arrival, Mr. Arlekar inspected the guard of honour and unfurled the national flag.
Contingents of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Railway Protection Force, Karnataka Police, Special Armed Police, Kerala Armed Police, Indian Reserve Battalion, Thiruvananthapuram City Police, platoons of the Kerala Prisons, Forest, Fire and Rescue Service and Excise departments, Sainik School Kazhakootam, army, air and naval wings of the National Cadet Corps, Student Police Cadets, Bharat Scouts and Guides, Mounted Police, and the brass and piped band units of the army, police, participated in the parade. School students from the city presented patriotic songs.
City police commissioner collapses
Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner Thomson Jose collapsed during the Republic Day celebrations at the Central Stadium. Mr. Jose was standing beside Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. A few minutes into Mr. Arlekar’s address, the Commissioner fell forward. Other officers immediately rushed to his side and carried him to a nearby ambulance. The Governor was heard directing the officers to ensure that the Commissioner was provided first aid and water. Mr. Jose returned to the pavilion a few minutes later.
