Goa’s unique model draws praise from Prez,launches Goa@60 celebrations

Kovind in his address at the official State function said the use of the tricolour and Gandhian path for the struggle reflected the emotional attachment with the mainland. 

“Goa is a unique model of people’s active participation in the nation-building with progressive thought”, he said.

He recalled and paid tributes to the sacrifices of freedom fighters, many of who he said had even lost their lives in the struggle.

"Despite Covid time, I came here to greet Goans on Goa Liberation Day," Kovind said, and also visited the historic Azad Maidan where he placed a wreath at the Martyrs Memorial there.

Traffic in the capital city meanwhile was thrown into complete disarray due to the arrangements for the President's engagements in the city. 

Traffic was choco-block along the entry and exit points of the city as the police and security forces shut a couple of internal city roads around the venues the President was to visit. 

Kovind in his speech also appreciated the natural beauty of Goa and quoted the clichéd beauty of the beaches along the coast.

He also praised the developmental and economic strides taken by the State in the last sixty years and gave credit to its people, public representatives, industry among others. He made a special mention of Goa's high quality pharmaceutical products and its pharma companies.

He also mentioned that the State ranks first in terms of per capita income and commended the Goa government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swayampurna Goa’ initiative. 

Kovind also made it a point to mention the Common Civil Code adopted by Goa which he said had encouraged cultural diversity and communal harmony.