Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit hoists tri-colour at Raj Bhavan

Chennai: Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday hoisted the national tricolour on the Raj Bhavan lawns, marking a welcome beginning of the patriotic ceremony at the First Citizen's abode.

“It was for the first time that our national flag was hoisted in the Raj Bhavan on Independence Day. We felt very happy, and proud”, said a staffer, adding that none of earlier Governors had undertaken the patriotic duty.

“Perhaps they were unaware; maybe they thought it was not part of their tasks at Raj Bhavan”, said the official requesting anonymity.

Another staffer said while Governor Purohit has now started the practice of hoisting the national flag on the Independence Day at the Raj Bhavan - he hoists the flag at the Gandhi Statue at the Marina on the Republic Day - he has also stopped several “undesirable practices of the past, such as wasteful spending on staff, food, entertainment, electricity, water, and so on”. He even travels economy while flying on official engagements and ticks off the expensive ceremonial frills.

“Not just that; he has also started the process of cleaning up the higher education in the state. Some of the esteemed predecessors were known to have been involved in questionable activities in the appointment of University Vice-Chancello-rs”, said another state official in the know of things.