Bareilly: Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries at a programme held at the Collectorate auditorium on Friday.
Singh offered flowers at their portraits and paid homage to the two national leaders. Addressing officers and employees, he conveyed greetings on behalf of the district administration and recalled their contributions to the country.
The District Magistrate urged officials to keep the nation first in all their actions, protect India’s cultural and civilisational values and contribute to the country’s progress. He said standing against wrongdoing and injustice was an important responsibility of citizens and called for preserving the spirit of unity in diversity.
Referring to Lal Bahadur Shastri’s personal life, Singh highlighted his simplicity and integrity, recalling that after Shastri left the Prime Minister’s residence, his family did not even have a two-room house to move into and the government arranged rented accommodation. He said Shastri’s life offered an example of honesty and public service.
Students and teachers of Draupadi Kanya Inter College presented devotional and patriotic songs, including Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye, Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini and Shastri Ji Tumhein Desh Pranam Karta Hai.
The District Magistrate honoured participating students Ankita Johri, Soumya Kasodhan, Ragini Yadav, Manvi, Kamini Maurya, Jainshi, Tanu, Navya Rastogi, Paridhi Oberoi and Yashika, along with teachers Shruti Pragyanan, lecturer in music and vocal studies, and Chakshupriya, assistant teacher, as well as assistant Devendra Pratap.
Additional District Magistrate Administration Purnima Singh, ADM Finance and Revenue Santosh Kumar Singh, ADM Judicial Divya Ojha, ADM City Avinash Tripathi, City Magistrate Rajesh Kumar Verma, ACMs and other Collectorate officials and employees were present.
Report: Akhilesh Chandra Saxena, Bareilly
