Puducherry: Liberation Day of the Union Territory of Puducherry was celebrated with gusto on Monday. Chief minister V. Narayanasamy hoisted the national flag on Beach Road and inspected the guard of honour. The freedom fighters were felicitated by the Chief Minister.
The Liberation Day celebrations turned to be a low-key affair because of the model code of conduct in force for the Nellithoppe Assembly by-election that to be held on November 19.
Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) also celebrated the Liberation day where PPCC president A. Namasivayam hoisted the flag in the presence of senior party leaders including chief minister V. Narayanasamy at the party office.
The day was also celebrated in Puducherry's enclave - Karaikal in Tamil Nadu, Mahe in Kerala and Yanam in Andhra Pradesh.
It was after the long pending demand of freedom fighters that the government decided to recognise the day. The de facto transfer or merger of Puducherry and other French colonies with India came into effect on November 1, 1954.
However, the government was commemorating the August 16, because, on that day in 1962, the rights and laws enshrined in the Indian Constitution were extended to the people of Puducherry, which is known as the de jure transfer.
Following the request from freedom fighters, the administration appointed a committee and based on their recommendations, the Chief Minister declared November 1 as Liberation Day. It was in 2014 the Liberation Day was celebrated for the first time in Puducherry.
