TN CM Stalin Shifts Tamil Nadu Day Celebrations To July 18 From Nov 1. Know Why

The Chief Minister in a statement said that celebrating Tamil Nadu Day on November 1 will only signify "the border struggle" which may not be appropriate to denote Tamil Nadu Day. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin (File Photo)

Chennai: In a major announcement, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin shifted Tamil Nadu Day celebration, first announced by AIADMK government on November 1, to July 18  since it was the day when Madras was renamed to Tamil Nadu by the late DMK patriarch and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Anna in 1967. The Chief Minister in a statement said that celebrating Tamil Nadu Day on November 1 will only signify "the border struggle" which may not be appropriate to denote Tamil Nadu Day. 

Taking to social media, Chief Minister Stalin on Saturday said, "The day November 1, 1956 was the day when Madras was divided and parts of Madras went away to form Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka based on the languages." 

Hence, the day will denote only the border struggle. 

However, he said, "Tamil enthusiasts and scholars are of the view that it will be appropriate to celebrate Tamil Nadu Day only on the day Madras was renamed to Tamil Nadu in 1967 through legislation in the Assembly by Anna. So, celebrating the day on July 18 will only be appropriate." 

Hence, Tamil Nadu day will from now on be celebrated on July 18 when Anna renamed Madras into Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said. 

Further, he said, "On November 1, nearly 110 fighters involved in the border struggle will be honoured with Rs 1 lakh each."

However, according to a report from PTI, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan criticized the move alleging that it is a political vendetta and he condemned the government for allegedly "portraying history as per their convenience".