De-Jure Day celebrated in Pondy

Puducherry, Aug 16 :  The Union Territory of Puducherry celebrated its 56th anniversary of the “De-Jure” day today. It as on August 16, 1962, the “De-Jure” (Legal merger of the UT with the Indian Union ) was effected after the French Parliament ratified the “Treaty of Cession”. Puducherry became independent by virtue of a referendum on October 18, 1954. But, the treaty of cession signed between the French and Indian governments was ratified by the French Parliament only on August 16, 1962. The territorial administration organized a function at the Keezhoor memorial where the referendum was signed. Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, his Cabinet Colleagues among others participated and paid tributes to the freedom fighters who participated in the referendum. Hitherto, the “De-Jure” was celebrated as the Independence Day of Puducherry and a public holiday was declared for the day. However, as the referendum was signed in October 1954, there had been a demand to celebrate November 1 as the independence day of Puducherry instead of August 16 by political parties and the French Indian Viduthalai Kaala Makkal Iyyakkam, a movement striving for the cause of the people who opted Indian citizenship at the time of the merger. Subsequently, former Chief Minister N Rangasamy announced November 1 as the “Liberation Day” of Puducherry and declared it as a public holiday. UNI