PANAJI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday drew heavily from the annals of history to underline Goa’s unbreakable bond with India, but also suggested that Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule could have occurred earlier, had the Union Home Minister Sardar Patel lived longer.
"I will also say on this occasion that if Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel had lived for some years more, then Goa would not have to wait for long for its freedom," Modi said in his speech at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium.
Modi was on a one-day visit to the coastal state on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the state’s Liberation from Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on previous occasions had spoken in similar vein blaming then Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru for the delay in the State’s liberation.
Modi also said that even though Goa and the rest of India were under varying regimes through history, the sense of belonging between the two was never doused despite the passage of time.
"Goa had been conquered by the Portuguese at a time when the Moghul empire ruled another part of the country. Since then the country has witnessed so many political storms. How many times did power change hands. But despite the passage of time and changes in power, Goa did not forget India nor did India forget its Goa,” the Prime Minister said.
“It is a relationship which has become stronger with time," he added.
Modi also lauded the spirit of Indian freedom fighters, who he said did not choose to rest on their laurels after achieving the objective of getting independence from Britain, but continued to strive for the Liberation of Goa from colonial yoke.
"The country became independent before Goa. Most people of India had got their rights. Now was the time for them to live their own dreams. They had options to pursue governance and power. They could have accepted honours and positions. But so many freedom fighters gave up on all this and continued to struggle and sacrifice themselves for Goa's freedom," Modi said.
"The people of Goa also did not stop agitating for freedom and independence. They kept the flame of freedom burning bright for the longest period in India's history. This is because India is not just about political power, India is that thought, a family which protects human rights," the Prime Minister added.
The Prime Minister also singled out the Cuncolim revolt of 1583, the Pinto of 1787 as well as recounted the contributions of freedom fighters like Luis de Menezes Braganza, Tristao Braganza da Cunha, Julio Menezes, Purushottam Kakodkar, Laxmikant Bhembre, Bala Raia Mapari, Mohan Ranade in the struggle for independence.
"Remember Mohan Ranade, who was sentenced to prison for fighting in Goa's freedom movement. He was made to suffer in prison for years. After years after Goa's Liberation, he still had to languish in prison," Modi said.
Modi also said that Maratha rulers like Chhatrapati Shivaji and his successor Sambhaji had also taken steps to attack Portugal to free Goa from colonial grip.
