Panaji Dec 19 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Goa would have been liberated from Portuguese rule much earlier had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel lived for some more time Modi was speaking at an event to celebrate Goa Liberation Day observed on December 19 every year to mark the day Indian armed forces freed the coastal state from Portuguese rule in 1961 Had Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel been alive for a little more time Goa would have been liberated earlier Modi said Patel deputy PM in the Nehru cabinet died on December 15 1950 He is credited with the liberation of Marathwada region in Maharashtra from erstwhile Nizams rule Modi lauded freedom fighters including those from outside Goa who fought for the states freedom When India got Independence they still continued the fight to liberate Goa he added They ensured that the struggle to liberate Goa did not end after Indias independence he said Modi also congratulated the Goa government for topping in various parameters of good governance The state has topped on parameters like per capita income exclusive toilet facility for girls in schools tap water in every household door to door waste collection and food security he said Modi remembered former Goa chief minister late Manohar Parrikar saying he had understood the potential of the state and nurtured it for welfare of the people During the event Modi felicitated freedom fighters and veterans of Operation Vijay operation undertaken by the Indian military to liberate Goa Modi said Goa came under Portugal rule when a major part of the country was ruled by Mughals but centuries later neither has Goa forgotten its Indianness nor has India forgotten Goa The PM who reached here this afternoon to participate in the celebrations marking 60 years of the coastal states liberation from Portuguese rule also witnessed a fly past and sail parade at Miramar Goa Liberation Day is observed on December 19 every year to mark the day Indian armed forces freed Goa in 1961 PTI RPS VT VT VT

Panaji Dec 19 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered floral tributes at Martyrs Memorial here on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day Modi who reached here this afternoon to participate in the celebrations marking 60 years of the coastal states liberation from Portuguese rule later witnessed a fly past and sail parade at Miramar Goa Liberation Day is observed on December 19 every year to mark the day Indian armed forces freed Goa in 1961 PTI RPS VT VT VT

Panaji Oct 29 PTI Tennis veteran Leander Paes on Friday joined the Trinamool Congress in presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here Banerjee who is in the coastal state on a three-day visit welcomed Paes into the party fold Senior actor and activist Nafisa Ali who contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from South Kolkata against Banerjee also joined the party PTI RPS VT VT VT

Panaji Sep 18 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said it was an unforgettable and emotional moment for him as over 250 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the country on his 71st birthday With your efforts India has created a world record of administering over 25 crore vaccines in a single day a feat not even the most powerful nations have been able to achieve Modi said during an interaction via video link with healthcare workers and beneficiaries in the coastal state We saw how the nation kept looking at CoWIN dashboard yesterday Over 15 lakh vaccinations per hour over 26000 vaccinations every minute took place yesterday Over 425 people were administered vaccines each second he said Modi said he appreciates all doctors medical staff and people in administration in the country for this effort The huge effort and skilled manpower needed to accomplish this task show the might of India he added Birthdays come and go but I have been away from such things But yesterday was emotional for me It has become an unforgettable occasion for me Modi said Without naming any party Modi said a political party developed fever after over 25 crore vaccine doses were administered on his birthday People speak of fever as a side effect of vaccines but a political party experienced fever after 25 crore vaccines were administered on my birthday he said Modi lauded Goa CM Pramod Sawant and his government for overcoming challenges in accomplishing 100 per cent vaccination of the first dose of covid vaccines in the coastal state Goa is on way to becoming a leading state in India as far as vaccination is concerned Modi said Goa is playing important role in the success of the worlds largest and fastest vaccination drive - Sabko vaccine muft vaccine In the past few months Goa fought bravely against heavy rainfall cyclone and flood under the leadership of Sawant he said When they are aware that all people are vaccinated tourists will also feel safe and flock to Goa in more numbers he said PTI RPS VT VT VT