PM Narendra Modi at the martyrs' memorial in Goa on Sunday (Twitter: @narendramodi)Goa Liberation Day Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Goa would have been liberated from Portuguese rule much earlier had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel lived for some more time. Modi was speaking at an event to celebrate Goa Liberation Day, observed on December 19 every year to mark the day Indian armed forces freed the coastal state from Portuguese rule in 1961.
Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been alive for a little more time, Goa would have been liberated earlier, Modi said. Modi also lauded freedom fighters, including those from outside Goa, who fought for the state’s freedom. When India got Independence, they still continued the fight to liberate Goa, he added. “They ensured that the struggle to liberate Goa did not end after India’s independence,” he said.
PM Modi on Sunday inaugurated multiple development projects in Goa, including the renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum, the super-specialty Block at Goa Medical College, the South Goa District Hospital, an aviation skill development centre at Mopa Airport and a gas-insulated substation at Davorlim in Navelim. Earlier, he felicitated Operation Vijay veterans and offered tribute at the martyrs’ memorial in Azad Maidan, Panaji.
He also said, “Goa came under Portuguese rule when a major part of the country was ruled by the Mughals. But even centuries later, neither Goa has forgotten its Indianness, nor India has forgotten its Goa…Some time ago, I went to Italy and Vatican City. There I also had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis. I invited him to visit India, to which Pope Francis said, ‘This is the greatest gift you have given me.’ This is his love for India’s diversity and our radiant democracy.”
He added, “Goa is top in good governance, per capita income, and many others. I want to congratulate Goa for completing cent percent coverage of 1st dose to all its eligible population. Today I can say that Pramod Sawant Ji is working with a big vision for the development of Goa…The country through the character of Manohar Parrikar Ji saw how honest, talented, and hardworking the people of Goa are. Through his life, we saw that how one can remain devoted to his state, his people till his last breath.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Goa would have been liberated from Portuguese rule much earlier had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel lived for some more time.
Modi was speaking at an event to celebrate Goa Liberation Day, observed on December 19 every year to mark the day Indian armed forces freed the coastal state from Portuguese rule in 1961.
Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been alive for a little more time, Goa would have been liberated earlier, Modi said.
Patel, deputy PM in the Nehru cabinet, died on December 15, 1950. He is credited with the liberation of Marathwada region in Maharashtra from erstwhile Nizam's rule.
Modi lauded freedom fighters, including those from outside Goa, who fought for the state's freedom. When India got Independence, they still continued the fight to liberate Goa, he added. “They ensured that the struggle to liberate Goa did not end after India's independence,” he said.
Modi also congratulated the Goa government for topping in various parameters of good governance. (PTI)
PM Modi says, “Goa is top in good governance, per capita income, and many others. I want to congratulate Goa for completing cent percent coverage of 1st dose to all its eligible population. Today I can say that Pramod Sawant Ji is working with a big vision for the development of Goa.”
He adds, “The country through the character of Manohar Parrikar Ji saw how honest, talented, and hardworking the people of Goa are. Through his life, we saw that how one can remain devoted to his state, his people till his last breath.” (ANI)
“Goa came under Portugal rule when the other major part of the country was ruled by the Mughals. But even centuries later, neither Goa has forgotten its Indianness, nor India has forgotten its Goa,” says PM Modi
He adds, “Some time ago, I went to Italy and Vatican City. There I also had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis. I invited him to visit India, to which Pope Francis said, ‘This is the greatest gift you have given me” This is his love for India's diversity, our radiant democracy’”.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates multiple development projects in Goa, including the renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum, Super Speciality Block at Goa Medical College, New South Goa District Hospital, aviation skill development centre at Mopa Airport and gas-insulated substation at Davorlim, Navelim.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a rousing welcome at Goa Liberation Day celebrations being held at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Goa.
PM Narendra Modi felicitates the freedom fighters and veterans of ‘Operation Vijay’ as part of Goa Liberation Day celebrations at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Goa.
As part of Goa Liberation Day celebrations, PM Narendra Modi attends Sail Parade and FlyPast in Panaji
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered tribute at Martyrs Memorial in Azad Maidan, Panaji on Sunday. Take a look:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Goa on Sunday afternoon. He was received by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Taking a dig at the prime minister ahead of his trip to Goa, TMC MP Sudip Banerjee said: "The Prime Minister reaches wherever there are elections. We saw that in Bengal, he was a daily passenger during West Bengal elections.
President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to the martyrs and freedom fighters who fought to liberate Goa from colonial rule. "We also salute the exemplary courage & valour of our armed forces," he tweeted.
On the occasion of Goa's liberation day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote: "We salute the soldiers and martyrs who defeated the Portuguese during Operation Vijay (1961) to set Goa free."
On the occasion of Goa's liberation day, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted: "I bow to the valour, courage and tireless efforts of our great freedom fighters who fought to liberate Goa from colonial rule."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Goa on Sunday as the state celebrates its 60th liberation day. The diamond jubilee celebrations were set in motion on December 19, 2020 by President Ram Nath Kovind on banks of the Mandovi river in Panaji, with the state government rolling out many programmes since then. The Centre too had announced a grant of Rs 300 crore for Goa.
While the day is always celebrated with much enthusiasm in the country’s smallest state, the celebrations are expected to have an added dimension this year with assembly elections just a couple of months away.
Why does Goa observe liberation day on December 19?
An important port for trade and military operations, Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for more than 450 years. While historically, revolts against Portuguese rulers and their policies have been recorded in the 18th and 19th century, on June 18, 1946, the movement of Goa’s liberation gathered momentum after socialist leader Dr Ram Manohar Lohia plunged himself into the freedom movement with many young Goans. The day is now observed as Goa Revolution Day.
However, even as India became independent on August 15, 1947, Goa continued to be under Portuguese rule 14 years after that. After India’s independence from the British in 1947, the calls for Goa’s Liberation again gathered steam. After multiple agitations by freedom fighters, India made peaceful attempts for Goa’s liberation through diplomatic channels. However, as a last resort, the Indian government then led by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, sent in its armed forces to the coastal state after which the Portuguese surrendered and Goa was liberated on December 19, 1961. This moment also marked the exit of the Portuguese, the last of the European colonisers to leave India. Read the full explainer here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend several events in Goa on December 19, the day the state celebrates 60 years of liberation from Portuguese rule.
This will be PM Modi’s first visit ahead of legislative Assembly polls in Goa, which has seen a series of Union ministers and political leaders visit the state over the last few months as the election season sets in.
Goa is slated to go to the polls in early 2022.