SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024
Team Herald
VALPOI: Senior political leaders of Goa led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, on Sunday lauded former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane for his immense contribution towards the progress made by the coastal State in the last 50 years.
Speaking at a special function organised on the occasion of his 85th birthday at the Bhumika School ground, Poriem, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant highlighted various roles played by Rane during his stint as the Chief Minister. He said that Rane played a pivotal role in passing the Official Language Act while Goa also attained Statehood during his tenure.
Sawant said that Rane is the only legislator in the State to complete 50 years as a legislator by winning Assembly elections for 11 times and besides serving as the Chief Minister, he also acted as Leader of the Opposition and Assembly Speaker and did justice to his positions.
He said that rulings given by Rane during his stint as the Speaker are still either used or referred to by Speakers of various Legislative Assemblies.
Sawant said that Rane was instrumental in starting the State-owned Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) and laid the foundation stone for various projects. “We have to learn a lot from him,” Sawant said.
Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik said that after former West Bengal Chief Minister late Jyoti Basu, Rane is the second longest Chief Minister in the country. He said that former Chief Minister late Dayanand Bandodkar, late Manohar Parrikar and Rane were ideal Chief Ministers.
Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade said that Rane was an ideal leader and gave justice to all positions he occupied during his 50 long years as a legislator.
Former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu in his address said that Rane is a model for all to emulate. He was also a nature lover. The whole world is trying to find out how Rane realised the dream of sustainable development.
An emotionally choked Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that whenever he struggled, he looked at his father who was a ‘Vatvrisksha’ (huge tree) for him and marched ahead.
