Union Minister and senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today paid homage to three legendary freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, saying the NDA government wanted to remember the sacrifices made by such people unlike importance given only to "a bunch" of leaders earlier.
Naidu, who paid homage to Veerapandiya Kattabomman, V O Chidambaram Pillai and revolutionary national poet Subramanya Bharathi at their memorials in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts, said he undertook the visit as per the instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"The purpose of my visit is Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) told us to celebrate 70 years of Independence and remember the great sacrifices made by such leaders.
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"After Independence only a bunch of freedom fighters were given importance. This government wanted to bring the stories of many such freedom fighters," he told reporters in Chennai on his return.
Earlier, Naidu paid homage to Kattabomman, 18th century chieftain, at his memorial in Kayathar in Tuticorin where he was executed by the British.
Kattabomman was executed by the British in 1799 after he opposed the British and refused to pay tax to them.
Naidu said the country was seeing development only during the last two years as barring the NDA regime the country had witnessed 'misrule and corruption'.
Paying tributes to Chidambaram Pillai at his birthplace Ottapidaram, Naidu said he would discuss with the Railway Minister the possibility of naming Tirunelveli Railway Junction after the freedom fighter.
Pillai, a prominent lawyer and a trade union leader, floated Swedeshi shipping company to compete against British ships in 1906. He was later charged with treason and imprisoned for several years.
Naidu also garlanded a statue of Subramanya Bharathi, a contemporary of Pillai, at Ettayapuram.
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