Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered floral tributes at Martyrs' Memorial in Panaji to mark Goa Liberation Day.
PANAJI
The first official engagement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was on a day-long visit to preside over the 60th anniversary of Liberation Day stopped by to pay homage at the Martyrs Memorial at Azad Maidan in the capital before proceeding to the Miramar beach from where he witnessed the sail parade and fly-past by the Indian Navy.
Governor P S Sreedhran Pillai, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant among other dignitaries accompanied the Prime Minister.
Modi laid a wreath at the foot of the Martyrs Memorial and spent a couple of minutes in silent reverence there.
His cavalcade then proceeded to Miramar from where Modi with binoculars watched the Indian Navy's fly-past and sail parade from an area on the beach which was cordoned off and had an audience largely made up of students.
The programme timed in late afternoon and it being a Sunday, for a change, did not cause much disruption in the city, which is otherwise a common complaint of citizens in Panaji whenever such celebrations with VVIPs in attendance are held.
On the occasion of Goa Liberation Day celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated multiple development projects at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium here on Sunday.
The Prime Minister felicitated the freedom fighters and veterans of `Operation Vijay` at the function. Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on December 19 every year to mark the success of `Operation Vijay` undertaken by the Indian Armed Forces that liberated Goa from Portuguese rule.
He inaugurated multiple development projects including the renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum, Super Speciality Block at Goa Medical College, New South Goa District Hospital, Aviation Skill Development Center at Mopa Airport and the Gas-insulated Substation at Dabolim-Navelim, Margao.
He laid the foundation stone for the India International University of Legal Education and Research of Bar Council of India Trust at Goa.
The Prime Minister released a Special Cover and Special Cancellation to mark the commemoration of the Indian Armed Forces freeing Goa from Portuguese rule.
This special episode of history is shown on the special cover, whereas the special cancellation depicts the war memorial at Indian Naval Ship Gomantak, constructed in memory of seven young gallant sailors and other personnel who laid down their lives in "Operation Vijay".
The Prime Minister released `My Stamp` depicting the Hutatma Smarak at Patradevi, which salutes the great sacrifices made by the martyrs of the Goa Liberation Movement.
A `Meghdoot Post Card` depicting a collage of pictures of different events during the Goa Liberation Struggle will also be presented to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister distributed awards to the best Panchayat/Municipality, Swayampurna Mitras and beneficiaries of the Swayampurna Goa Programme.
