NT Reporter
Curchorem
Power Minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said people should remember the sacrifices of freedom fighters and patriots while enjoying the fruits of freedom.
“Today we are enjoying the fruits of freedom. But to achieve this, innumerable freedom fighters and patriots not only struggled but sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country,” Dhavalikar said.
He was speaking at the Independence Day function organised for Kushavati district at the government ground in Borim, Quepem.
“We should be proud to be citizens of this great country. We should remember Subhash Chandra Bose, who raised his own army to fight for freedom from British rule,” he said.
Dhavalikar said people should also remember Lokmanya Tilak, who started the sarvajanik Ganeshotsav with the intention of encouraging people to come out fearlessly against British rule, participate in the festival and interact.
He said various groups had taken part in freedom struggles, including the Kisan Andolan, and all these movements together helped make the country free from British rule.
The present dream was of a ‘Samrudh Bharat’
and that all prime ministers had contributed to developing infrastructure for
national progress, said Power Minister.
He said several steps had been taken for the country’s development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan had helped people understand the importance of cleanliness.
The minister said “real freedom” was given to Kashmir by removing Article 370.
Speaking about Goa, he said the state’s first chief minister, Dayanand Bandodkar, was responsible for opening schools in all talukas and promoting education.
Dhavalikar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision now included providing 33 per cent reservation for women, which would mean 15 to 16 seats reserved for women in Goa once implemented.
