Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister hoisted the tricolour national flag at St George Fort, the Secretariat of Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day on Sunday. On the first Independence Day, after the Chief Minister assumed office, Stalin accepted the Guard of Honour provided by Tamil Nadu police and hoisted the national flag at the Secretariat.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his wife Durga Stalin, MLA, and son Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK MP Kanimozhi at Fort St George. Speaking on the occasion of Independence Day, Chief Minister Stalin said, “I thank the people of Tamil Nadu for giving me the opportunity to hoist the national flag. While India is celebrating its 75th Independence Day, I am happy to hoist the flag as the Chief Minister.”
“I take the opportunity to recall that former Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi earned the opportunity for the Chief Ministers to hoist the national flag on Independence Day by putting forth the suggestion before then PM Indira Gandhi. Not just to the Tamil Nadu CM but he gave the opportunity to all the Chief Ministers of the country,” he said.
Further, Stalin emphasizing on the important centenary celebrations of the year 2021 said, “It’s the centenary year since Mahatma Gandhi came to Madurai and decided to change his attire to loincloth after seeing the plight of people. It’s the 150 years birth anniversary of VO Chidambaranar, otherwise called The Tamil Helmsman, who was instrumental in the freedom struggle. It’s the centenary anniversary of Freedom fighter Mahakavi Bharathi. So, this is an important year.”
Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated a remembrance pillar and mentioned that the memorial is a remembrance to all the freedom fighters who were instrumental in the freedom struggle and mentioned the names of a few freedom fighters including Tiruppur Kumaran, Captain Vijayalakshmi and Velu Nachiyar.