Miffed with the government move to classify RSS workers as freedom fighters, freedom fighters from Goa boycotted the state’s 42nd Liberation Day function on Friday in protest.The function was presided over by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Shekhawat felicitated 153 non-Goans from across the country who had participated in the struggle for Goa’s liberation.Justifying the felicitation, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said in a press note that thousands of people outside Goa had played a role in the state’s freedom movement, and their contribution had gone unrecognised. “Their moral support provided the requisite boost to the liberation movement.” However, freedom fighters from Goa have been deeply critical of the BJP Government’s efforts to include non-freedom fighters affiliated to the RSS in the Swatantra Sainik Sangathana.
