State lines up 'tiranga yatras', I-Day programmes

PANAJI

The State government has lined up a number of programmes in the run-up, on the day and post the 75th Independence Day on August 15 including the honouring of 75 martyrs at the main function in the State capital.
Since Tuesday (August 10), through various high schools and higher secondary schools, 'tiranga yatras' are being organised across the State which will continue till August 15 and beyond, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.
Several freedom fighters were invited and felicitated at the Aguada Jail Museum on Thursday at a special function that was presided over and attended by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte.
Sawant said the Aguada Jail Museum event is part of the nationwide programme to hoist the national flag at historic places.
On Saturday (August 13) the State government will organise two 'tiranga yatras' in Panaji and Margao. In the capital, the yatra will begin from the Old Secretariat, which is the spot where the first national flag was hoisted after Goa got liberated and culminate at the Azad Maidan.
In Margao, Saturday's 'tiranga yatra' will begin from the Margao Municipal Council and culminate at the Lohia Maidan, he said.
Sawant said the State government will also take the initiative to promote the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' programme launched by the Centre by which all citizens will be encouraged to hoist the flag at their homes.
Another Centre-inspired programme that the Sawant government will organise is the "Partition Horrors Remembrance Day" on August 14. Sawant said, in Panaji the programme will be held in the evening led by him with a rally from the Church Square to the Azad Maidan.
Meanwhile, on August 15 the 75 martyrs, including 28 from outside Goa will be honoured at the official State functions.
Sawant said, families of the martyrs will be presented a 'certificate of honour' and family members of four of the martyrs from outside Goa have till date confirmed their participation.
In Panaji, martyrs from Tiswadi will also be honoured by presenting the 'certificate of honour' to their family members. These 'certificates of honour' will be presented to these martyrs at the functions in all the talukas, he said.

Kamat urges people to participate in Har Ghar Tiranga campaign
MARGAO: Congress leaders may have expressed reservations on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Har Ghar Tiranga campaign in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of India's independence.
Senior Goa Congress MLA Digambar Kamat on Thursday gave a call to the people to wholeheartedly participate in the Har ghar Tiranga by hoisting the tricolour at their houses on August 13, 14 and 15.
Attending a Har Ghar Tiranga programme organised by the Union Tourism department in association with the Konkan Railway at the Margao railway station, Kamat urged the people to hoist the Tricolour atop their houses for three days and help create an atmosphere of love for the country.
The Congress MLA gave the call to the people in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign in the presence of Union Tourism Minister Shripad Naik, Navelim BJP MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, BJP functionaries including Margao Mandal president Rupesh Mahatme, Sharmad Raiturkar, Margao Municipal Councillors and Konkan Railway officials at the Margao railway station.
In his brief address, Union Minister Shripad Naik urged the people to participate in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign for three days. “We have to inculcate in the young minds a spirit of love for the country and how the countrymen had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country,” Shripad said.
Five prominent freedom fighters were honoured at the hands of the Union Minister.
Earlier, Shripad along with Kamat, Ulhas Tuenkar, Margao Municipal Councillors paid tributes to the freedom fighters at the Martyr’s memorial at the Lohia Maidan, Margao.

Bury political differences, join hands to celebrate I-Day: Dy Speaker
MAPUSA: Deputy Speaker Joshua D’Souza on Thursday called upon the people of the State to forget their political affiliations and join hands to celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav for the love of the nation.
D’Souza also said that people should come together as citizens of one India on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence.
“This event is non-political and there is enthusiasm among the people. Everyone should celebrate this milestone of India’s Independence with great fervour. We should all keep our political views aside and join in the celebrations,” D’Souza said.
The Deputy Speaker was addressing a news conference along with Mapusa BJP Mandal President, Sushant Harmalkar, mandal General Secretary, Yeshwant Gauandalkar, Chairperson Shubanghi Vaigankar and other councillors.
To celebrate the event, the BJP Mapusa Mandal has organised various programmes to create awareness about the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign among the people of Mapusa to hoist the national flag at their respective houses to celebrate the 75th Independence Day of India
The Mandal has already organised a prabhat pheri and mashal yatra as part of the programme and had planned a bike rally on August 12 which will commence at 5 pm from Karaswada junction and conclude at new Tar bridge.
On August 13 the mandal will hoist the tricolour below the North Goa District BJP office in Mapusa at 12 noon at the hands of Deputy Speaker and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza and simultaneously national flags will be unfurled at several public places in town.
The local MLA in collaboration with Mapusa Municipal Council has procured 7,000 national flags which will be distributed among the citizens of Mapusa.

Aldona BJP to hold bike rally tomorrow
MAPUSA: As part of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, the Aldona BJP Mandal has decided to convince people to unfurl the national flag in their houses and also hold several programmes days before the Independence Day function on August 15.
BJP North Goa District Vice President, Franky Carvalho informed that the BJP karyakartas will be carrying out an awareness programme in Aldona requesting people to unfurl the tricolour in their homes.
The BJP North Goa District Vice President was addressing a news conference in BJP’s North Goa District Office on Tuesday. State BJP executive member, Shivanand Shirodkar, former Bastora sarpanch and BJP leader, Ranjeet Usgoankar and Shrikant Naik were also present.
Speaking further, Carvalho said a bike rally will also be held on August 13 which will be coordinated by former sarpanch Ranjeet Usgaonkar.
He said former Aldona MLA, Glenn Ticlo, ZP member Manisha Naik and other leaders will also be taking part in the programmes.