Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that several lives of Goa’s freedom fighters would have been saved, if the state was freed from Portuguese-rule along with India’s Freedom.
Speaking on the occasion of Goa Revolution Day, Sawant said that Goa was liberated 14 years after India’s Freedom.
“There was delay in liberating Goa from the Portuguese rule. If it was liberated along with Bharat, we would have saved lives of many freedom fighters,” the chief minister said.
He also said that Goa would have witnessed development, much early, if it was liberated along with India’s freedom.
The representatives of Freedom Fighters Association including its President Rohidas Desai were present on the dais on the occasion.
Before the formal function, Sawant along with Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai and freedom fighters laid wrath at Martyrs’ memorial at Azad Maidan in Panaji.
Goa Revolution Day is celebrated every year on June 18 to commemorate the beginning of the civil disobedience movement against Portuguese colonial rule in Goa led by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia.
Addressing the gathering, Sawant said that government can enact legislations and laws, but it is the duty of every citizen to follow it.
He said that it is the responsibility of every citizen to abide by the law.
Stressing for Green and Clean Goa, the chief minister said that every citizen should contribute for towards the mission of keeping Go, green and clean.
He said that like people contributed in every way for the liberation movement during Portuguese rule, the people of Goa should now give their contribution to keep the state clean.
