Puducherry

Speaking at a function organised to honour the freedom fighters on the occasion of the De-jure day here, the Chief Minister said, in spite of hindrances from the Central government and the Lt Governor, the Union Territory is marching towards development.

The financial  assistance to freedom fighters would be enhanced by Rs 1,000 and  they will soon get Rs 9,000 a month instead of the present Rs 8,000, he added. He also honoured the freedom fighters with shawls.

Earlier in the day, Narayanasamy paid tributes to freedom fighters at Keezhoor village. Keezhoor is a hamlet close to neighbouring Tamil Nadu and the then French regime conducted a referendum there on October 17, 1954 to ascertain wishes of the people’s representatives on the future of French rule in Puducherry and constituent regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.

After a majority of them expressed the desire that French establishments in India be merged with the Indian Union, a Treaty of Cession was signed between French and Indian governments leading first to ‘De-facto’ merger of French establishments with the Indian Union with effect from November 1, 1954.

De-jure transfer was accomplished on August 16, 1962, after the ratification of the treaty in French Parliament. Lt Governor Kiran Bedi drove to Keezhoor village and paid floral tributes at the memorial erected at the site where the referendum was held.

CM Narayanasamy, PWD Minister A Namassivayam, Speaker VP Sivakolundhu and legislators paid homage at the memorial.

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