VIJAYAWADA: Muslims and Christians in large numbers participated in rallies with the National Flag across Andhra Pradesh on Friday as part of the Azadika Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) programme.
Muslims held the flag-raising rallies after Friday prayers from heritage buildings and historic mosques while Christians did so at historic churches.
Secretary to the Minorities department Md Imtiaz said chief minister Jagan Reddy had given a call for the national flag rallies and selfies at the historical mosques and churches to mark the occasion.
Muslims held a rally from Jamia Masjid in Vizianagaram, the oldest Mosque. The Imam, the Muezzin of the mosque, members of the management committee and other Muslims participated in the massive rally.
In the Madrasa of Eluru, students took out rallies raising the national flag and a meeting was held.
Muslims who came for the Friday prayers in the iconic and historical mosques in Guntur and Krishna districts waved the national flag while chanting national slogans in a show of patriotism, by conducting the rallies.
At Kurnool, students held a rally from Gummaj to Osmania College, holding flags and chanting slogans. Christians held the rally from an ancient church in Vizianagaram that had recently been modernized.
Students of Darussalam Madrasa in Guntur organised a rally. Muslims from mosques and Christians from churches held rallies and took selfies across the state, Imtiaz said.
