It’s Golden Jubilee of CMs Hoisting National Flag
Deccan ChronicleChennai: When Chief Minister M K Stalin unfurled the tricolor at the ramparts of Fort St George in Chennai on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day on Thursday, it marked the golden jubilee of Chief Ministers hoisting the national flag – an honour that was bestowed with the Governors till 1974 – after M Karunanidhi, as Chief Minister took up the issue with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In the address, Stalin made a mention of Karunanidhi getting the right for the Chief Ministers to lead the customary flag hoisting ceremony in all States referring to it as another struggle for independence as it was for more rights to the State. Indeed it took an assertive Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to fight for the State’s right when other States were not particular about it and finally win it for all. With Indira Gandhi accepting Karunanidhi’s argument and according the right for Chief Ministers of all States to preside over the Independence Day celebrations, the Tamil Nadu government also instituted special awards that were presented on the occasion.