SALEM: Colour and gaiety besides eye-catching cultural programmes by enthusiastic school children marked the 73rd I-Day celebrations in Salem district, the home-turf of Chief Minister, Mr. Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The Salem district collector, Mr. S A Raman hoisted the national tri-colour at the Mahatma Gandhi stadium, inspected a guard of honour and gave away welfare assistance to beneficiaries under various schemes.
At the district sports stadium in Namakkal, collector Dr M Asia Mariam, after hoisting the national flag, personally offered shawls in honouring veteran freedom fighters on the occasion.
In Erode district, at the VOC play grounds, collector, C Kathiravan, hoisted the Indian tri-colour and distributed welfare assistance to various beneficiaries.
However, what marred the celebrations in Erode district was over 100 members of the Dalit community of Vellode area near Erode, boycotted the I-Day celebrations and resorted to a black-flag protest to press-their long pending demand for a burial ground in their area.
The angry villagers said they were driven to this protest as several petitions to the district authorities including collector and DRO were of no avail so far. Carrying a 'paadai (thatched bier used for carrying dead bodies)' and tying black flags on bicycles, they raised slogans to press their demand.
On information, police and revenue officials rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators, assuring action will be taken to develop a burial ground for them soon, the agitating Dalits gave up their protest and dispersed peacefully.
