Kanimozhi Remembers Her Father’s Legacy on India’s 80th Independence Day

On the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, DMK leader Kanimozhi reflected on the legacy of her father, M. Karunanidhi, whose decades‑long fight reshaped a ceremonial protocol.

Karunanidhi’s campaign was rooted in the belief that the tricolour should be raised by the elected head of a state, not merely by the appointed governor. The struggle involved extensive dialogue with central authorities, legal challenges and mass mobilisation across Tamil Nadu.

The eventual success of the movement granted chief ministers the authority to hoist the flag, reinforcing the democratic principle that power rests with elected representatives. This right now stands as a testament to federal solidarity and the vision of a leader who placed the nation’s unity above partisan politics.

Kanimozhi concluded by urging citizens to remember the countless martyrs of the freedom movement, to safeguard the federal values championed by her father, and to celebrate the day with humility and pride.