Lt Governer, CM take part in Puducherry De Jure Day
It was on this day in 1962 that Puducherry was formally merged with the Indian union.
PUDUCHERRY: The Union territory of Puducherry celebrated De Jure Day on Tuesday. It was on this day in 1962 that Puducherry was formally merged with the Indian union.
Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, his cabinet colleagues and others participated and paid tributes to freedom fighters who participated in the referendum function at the Keezhoor memorial.
Keezhoor was the venue for the referendum in October 1954 where elected members of the Representative Assembly and municipal councillors of Pondicherry and Karaikal took part. A majority of members favoured the merger of French Indian territories with India.
On August 16, 1962, India and France exchanged the instruments of ratification under which France ceded to India's full sovereignty the territories it held.
Speaking on the occasion, Kiran Bedi said Puducherry was merged with the Indian union following the ‘Keezhoor referendum’ and it is the responsibility of the government to honour freedom fighters who struggled for the freedom of Puducherry. The government and people together should do this.
The Chief Minister hosted a tea party for freedom fighters. Ministers and officials of the territorial administration were among those who participated in the celebrations. August 16 is a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act in the Union Territory of Puducherry.