Governor greets Goans on Liberation Day HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, DEC 18
Governor Dr S S Sidhu has extended warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Goa on the occasion of the Goa Liberation Day. Addressing the State on AIR, Doordarshan and news channels, Dr Sidhu said that December 19 is a memorable day in the history of Goa as it was on this day that Goa was liberated from the Portuguese rule. A generation of determined patriots from Goa and other parts of the country made supreme sacrifices to regain Goas freedom from the colonial rule, Dr Sidhu informed and urged the people to pay tributes to all those martyrs and valiant men and women whose sacrifices and selfless efforts enabled the State to attain freedom. Dr Sidhu added that liberation witnessed the dawn of democracy in Goa and enabled her to join the national mainstream for planned socio-economic development in consonance with the cherished Constitutional ideals and objectives. During the 48 years of post-Liberation era, Goa has made phenomenal and noteworthy accomplishments in political, social, economic and cultural spheres. The gains include retention of separate identity within the Indian Union through the historic Opinion Poll, recognition of Konkani as the Official Language, grant of full-fledged Statehood and a positive transformation on the socio-economic front, he added. The Liberation Day is an appropriate occasion to retrospect and introspect our past gains and also to renew our efforts to bring about higher level of progress in all spheres and to improve the quality of life of our people. At the same time, we will have to be eternally vigilant to safeguard the hard-won freedom. The threat of terrorism is looming large and is a matter of serious concern. A collective effort is, therefore, the need of the honour to protect our Motherland, said Dr Sidhu. http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=31299&cid=26
