Highlights of the Students Rally and the Thanksgiving Programme organized by India Against Corruption (Goa unit)
A massive Student’s Rally was held in the city of Panaji to celebrate the success of Anna Hazare’s peaceful and non-violent Nation-wide crusade against corruption. Hundreds of School and college students, braving the rains and rough weather, hit the streets of Panaji to participate in the victory march. There were large numbers of students from the Institutions of Mushtifund, Hedgewar, Kasturba, Progress, Dhempe College, Salgaocar College of Law and Hotel Management Porvorim. In all, students from around 14 Institutions and around 1500 participated in the victory march. The rally was marked with cheer and jubilant celebrations; with students playing dhols, waving the National flags, chanting patriotic slogans, holding placards, etc. There was a celebratory mood all around. Students were heard chanting slogans like ‘Anna Hazare Zindabad’, ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Vande Mataram’. The mood was set by the School Band of Hedgewar School which played non stop celebratory music on the occasion. The Rally which began at the Church Square proceeded through the city to culminate at the Azad Maidan, Panaji. Amidst loud cheers of welcome chants and in a Red-Carpet styled welcome, IAC Goa Unit Members, standing in long queues on either sides of the Azad Maidan entrance, greeted the students and the Youth for being the driving force of this movement in Goa. Students after being welcomed paid homage at the Martyrs Memorial at Azad Maidan. Freedom Fighter Sharada Savoikar presided over the Thanksgiving function which was held later. Addressing the large gathering of students and other citizens who had gathered there to celebrate the success of the movement, Ms Savoikar welcomed the younger generation, the Activists, and other members of the Public and thanked them for relentlessly supporting this struggle. Enthusiastic students then recited poems and made speeches, amidst thundering non stop cheers from the large gathering. Child Artists displayed the Paintings which they had drawn to support the ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’ and the Anti-Corruption call given by Anna Hazare at the venue. Ms Aparna Chari (Musthtifund High School), Mr. Sudin Kane(PTA Chairman), Principals and Teachers of other Institutions also spoke during the thanksgiving programme. Prominent amongst others present were: Dinesh Vaghela, Adv. Satish Sonak, Dr Meenakshi Martins, Valmiki Naik, etc representing India Against Corruption(Goa Unit). Malissa Simoes, Gaurang Panandikar and Suraj Shenai representing ‘Youth for Goa’. Dr Hubert Gomes of Goa Speaks and other IAC Goa Unit coordinators, namely Dattaprasad Naik, Sunil Pednekar, Sandeep Heble, Ricardo Rebello, Shiv Kenkre, Siddharaj Mopkar and others. Organizers while thanking the Public for their unstinting support to the anti-corruption cause urged them to continue to support the crusade until a strong Lokpal Bill was passed. The programme was compered by Manoj Joshi. National Anthem was sung in chorus to culminate the victory and thanksgiving celebrations. Thanking you, Yours sincerely Sandeep Heble 9326129171 Coordinator, India Against Corruption (Goa unit)
