NT Reporter
Panaji
Highlighting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution to India’s integration and his support for Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said that Goa could have attained liberation soon after India’s Independence.
Sawant flagged off Run for Unity in the city in the presence of Union Minister Shripad Naik on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, the Iron Man of India.
“India became independent in 1947. However, at the time of independence, India was not a united nation in the way we know it today. There were numerous princely states, each ruled by its own king. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a historic role in uniting these princely states and bringing them together to form one nation,” said Sawant.
Giving historical references, Sawant said that on May 14, 1946, before India’s independence, Sardar Patel wrote a letter to the president of Goa Congress, reassuring Goans that their struggle against foreign rule was natural and that foreign domination would have no place on Indian soil once India became free.
Sawant also said that in 1950, when Patel was travelling by boat between Bombay and Madras, during the journey, the question of Goa’s liberation came up wherein Patel expressed the desire to see Goa integrated into India.
“However, the captain said that any military action required the necessary authorisation from the Prime Minister. India’s foreign policy at the time placed considerable emphasis on non-violence under Pandit Jawarhalal Nehru,” said Sawant adding that, “as a result, Goa’s liberation did not take place immediately after India’s independence. It took another 11 years, until 1961, for Goa to be liberated from
Portuguese rule”.
During this period, Goan freedom fighters continued their struggle. Many sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom. “Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel lived longer, perhaps Goa’s liberation might have taken place earlier. He passed away in December 1950,” Sawant said.
Urging youngsters to understand the country’s history, Sawant said “it is important for every young Indian to understand the sacrifices and contributions of those who helped build our nation”. “That is why we are celebrating the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. On this occasion, we must also recognise the initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including Startup India, Stand-Up India etc. These initiatives reflect the broader vision of building a strong, self-reliant and developed India,” the Chief Minister said.
Sawant said young people from all 12 talukas of Goa have participated in the Run for Unity. “This run is not merely a sporting event. It is a symbol of our commitment to national unity, integrity and solidarity,” he said.
