58th 'De Jure' transfer day celebrated

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy paid tributes to freedom fighters of Puducherry on the occasion of celebration of the 58th De Jure Transfer Day at Keezhoor village on Friday.

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 ratification of the treaty in French Parliament.

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi drove to the Keezhoor village and paid floral tributes at the memorial erected at the site where the referendum was held.

Chief Minister Narayanasamy, PWD minister A Namassivayam, Puducherry Assembly speaker V P Sivakolundhu and legislators, among others, paid homage at the memorial.

Puducherry has been seeking full statehood for last several years on the ground that the territorial system of administration was not conferring full-fledged powers to elected governments.