Marina Beach witnesses very lean crowd for Republic Day celebrations

CHENNAI: Marina Beach, which was the centre stage of the pro-Jallikattu protests, saw a very low turnout for the 68th Republic Day celebrations on Thursday. Instead of the lakhs of people who visit the beach every year on January 26 to witness the series of events that would follow the unfurling of the national flag, only a few people, turned up. The low turnout was attributed to the increased police vigil and scanty public transport services following the violence witnessed at the end of the jallikattu agitation.

After police tightened the vigil on Marina Beach following the violence, the stretch was out of bounds for public and on Friday, about 25,000 police personnel were on duty across the city. Participation in the Republic Day events was low as well. Students from various schools took part in the cultural programme at Kamarajar Salai, but the number of schools that participated in the cultural shows was fewer this year.

Instead of the 32 government departments, which display their tableaus in the procession of floats on Republic Day, only 17 presented. “The dinner at Governor's residence was also cancelled. This has been an unusual Republic Day,” said an official. Some people also attributed the reason to be their beloved Amma's demise, as per many among the public who grieved. “Without Amma there won't be any celebrations,” said K Sumathi.