The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has announced a state-wide tricolor rally featuring two-wheelers from August 12 to August 15. The initiative aims to celebrate Independence Day by showcasing the national flag and emphasizing the party’s historical connection to the freedom struggle.
Congress workers will conduct the rally in various local areas across Tamil Nadu. Participants will carry the national flag on their two-wheelers, and the rallies will be accompanied by meetings to discuss the freedom struggle and the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi. This series of events is designed to highlight the party’s long-standing association with the tricolor and reinforce its commitment to national pride.
K Selvaperunthagai, the President of Tamil Nadu Congress, articulated that these rallies are a testament to the party’s enduring connection with the national flag. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for endorsing only state-level rallies and not embracing the national sentiment in a more inclusive manner. Selvaperunthagai remarked, “Everyone has the right to carry the national flag and celebrate Independence Day,” and took a critical stance against the BJP, alleging that the party’s roots in the RSS—a group he claimed was initially reluctant to accept the tricolor—compromise its claim to patriotic credentials.
He pointed out that the RSS headquarters in Nagpur began hoisting the national flag only 52 years after India gained independence. Selvaperunthagai argued that this historical context undermines the BJP’s position and integrity regarding the national flag. He further asserted that the Congress Party, having been instrumental in the country’s freedom struggle and the creation of modern India, has a duty to ensure that the BJP does not co-opt the symbolism of the national flag for its own purposes.
The Congress’s initiative comes amid ongoing political tensions between the party and the BJP. By organizing this rally and highlighting historical grievances, the Congress aims to reaffirm its legacy and counteract the BJP’s attempts to associate itself with nationalistic sentiments. The party’s actions reflect its broader strategy to reassert its role in India’s history and contemporary political discourse.
As the Independence Day approaches, the Tamil Nadu Congress’s tricolor rally is set to be a significant event. Through this initiative, the party seeks to celebrate the national flag’s symbolism, honor the legacy of the freedom struggle, and address what it views as attempts by the BJP to monopolies patriotic sentiments. The success of these rallies will likely have implications for the Congress’s political messaging and its relationship with the electorate in Tamil Nadu.