Puducherry, Nov 1 (UNI) Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasmay unfurled the tricolour at Gandhi Thidal on the beach road here and inspected a guard of honour presented by the Puducherry armed police to mark the 66th Liberation day celebrations of the union territory.

The celebrations were on a low-key affair in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic.

It was on November 1, 1954, the union territory was liberated from French colonialism following a referendum in which all elected members from Puducherry voted against the French and preferred to join India. Subsequently, the French effected the de-facto merger on this day in 1954. Later the Indian government effected the de-jure transferring the territory to its union on August 16, 1962. Since then Puducherry has been celebrating Independence Day on August 16.

Former chief minister N Rangasamy declared November 1 as the Liberation Day in 2014 and started commemorating the day.

The cabinet colleagues of the chief minister, speaker Sivakozhunthu, parliament members Vaithilingam and Gokula Krishnan, legislators and senior officials of the territorial administration among others participated in the function.
UNI PAB RHK1026