Chennai: Though it is not election season, several districts in Tamil Nadu, including the state capital are awash with saffron flags and national tricolour. A battery of BJP ministers has hectically toured TN visiting the far-flung destinations to whip up nationalism among people.
The visits of the Central ministers have been planned coinciding with the Independence Day celebrations and they covered several districts including Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Madurai, Rameswaram, Vellore besides Chennai. Though this yatra, the saffron party hopes to inject fresh bout of nationalism among people. “For the first time our Ministers have visited the birth places of the freedom fighters of the state to also eulogise the exemplary contribution of Tamil Nadu towards the Indian freedom struggle. The visits have brought the people closer,” claimed a senior leader in the party.
The historic Vellore, which first revolted against the British in 1806, was also in the itinerary of the ministers. On August 19, after placing a wreath at the memorial of 1806 sepoy uprising at the Vellore fort, Union minister of state for defence Dr Suresh Bhamre emphasised the need to remember the hardships and sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and revive the spirit behind the freedom struggle. “The government’s initiative of celebrating 70 years of Independence by honouring all our freedom fighters across the country is aimed at instilling a spirit of nationalism in the youth and children,” he had said.
Union minister for information and broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu garlanded the statue of the freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai at Ottapidaram in Tuticorin district, accompanied by Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping P. Radhakrishnan. Minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi too participated in a similar event at Subramania Bharathi's memorial in the city and honored family members of freedom fighters on August 16.
