Chief Minister Narendra Modi flagged off an impressive march-past at the central vista, extending from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue near the State Assembly to Mahatma Gandhi, to mark the concluding function of the Gujarat's yearlong golden jubilee celebration here this evening.
Kenya's Vice President Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, leading a 14-member delegation from his country, was present at the event as the chief guest.
In all, 2,107 uniformed personnel, including 150 women, from 58 different platoons of Paramilitary, Police Force and Mounted Police took part in the parade. It was led by three women officers, SP (Vadodara Rural) Gagandeep Gambhir, DySP (Kalol) Ushaben Rada and Ahmedabad Crime Branch PI Chetna Choudhry.
A number of cultural troupes presented the state's tribal and traditional dance forms like Hudo, Raas and Garba. Children presented acrobatics. There were 10 police bands and some from schools.
The highlights of the programme were 26 tableaux, depicting the progress of the state in various fronts such as Narmada Canal, Panch Shakti, Oil & Gas, Tourism, Women's Empowerment, Renewable Resources of Energy and Kids City. It was followed by a torch rally.
The event was attended by Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Chairmen of Statutory Boards and Corporations, senior officers, besides a number of Non-Resident Gujaratis living abroad and in other states of India. A large number of public cheered the participants of the march-past along the central vista.
