On the eve of Goa Liberation Day, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday (December 18, 2024) honoured the family members of those who sacrificed their lives during the movement to end Portuguese colonial rule in the coast State.
Talking to reporters after the felicitation function, the Chief Minister said the State government had paid tribute to its martyrs whose family members were presented with a certificate of honour and monetary benefits.
The Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on December 19 every year to mark the success of ‘Operation Vijay’ undertaken by the armed forces in 1961 to liberate the State from Portugal.
Mr. Sawant said he had the honour of visiting and felicitating the “ veerpatni of martyr Karnail Singh Benipal in Haryana whose contribution to the struggle remains etched in our hearts”.
The families of several freedom fighters were also honoured on Wednesday.
Some of the martyrs whose families were felicitated were Bala Raya Mapari, Basavraj Hudgi, Sheshnath Wadekar, Tulshiram Balkrishna Hirve, Baburao Keshav Thorat, Sakharam Shirodkar, Rohidas Mapari, Yeshwant Agarwadekar, Ramchandra Nevgi, Bapu Vishnu Gavas, Babla Parab, Laxman Velingkar, Keshavbhai Tengse, and Parshuram Acharya.
‘450 years of tyranny’
Mr. Sawant said that Goa endured nearly 450 years of “despotic and oppressive Portuguese colonial rule”. He added, “The resilient spirit of the Goan people and those from neighbouring regions and States was behind the uprising against colonial tyranny.”
The CM also said that the coastal State’s struggle for liberation after India’s Independence was particularly significant as freedom fighters from across the nation joined hands with the Goans.
“In this valiant struggle, 74 brave souls made the ultimate sacrifice and the recognition and felicitation by our government reflects our unwavering commitment to honour and remember the sacrifices of these freedom fighters and their families,” he added.
Published - December 19, 2024 06:25 am IST
