TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Participating in the ‘Run for Unity’ here in Panjim, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar hailed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in whose memory the event was organised stating that Goa would have been freed from the Portuguese rule much earlier had Patel lived longer after India’s independence.
“Goa would have been freed from the Portuguese yoke in 1948 instead of the long wait till 1961,” said Parrikar who himself ran for two kilometers from Azad Maidan to Campal in the Run for Unity organised by the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Rashtriya Trust of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the Education department.
Parrikar was addressing those that had gathered to participate in the ‘Run for Unity’ event held to mark Independent India’s first home minister’s 63rd death anniversary.
Parrikar also criticised India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, by comparing his handling of the Kashmir issue with the swift manner in which Patel managed to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad into the Indian fold.
“Nehru took the Kashmir issue to the international forum and look at what is happening now. The Kashmir issue is still hanging. Kashmir is still not fully (integrated) in India. Patel freed Hyderabad in 24 hours,” Parrikar said.
The Run for Unity in Panjim saw a participation of over 600 people while other talukas also saw a fairly good response even though there were calls for boycott on Saturday.
Meanwhile, thousands participated in the run organised across the State on Sunday to mark the 63rd death anniversary of ‘Iron man of India’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
In Bicholim, about 5,000 people including school students and locals participated in the event organised by Bicholim Taluka Organising Committee at Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Maidan, Bicholim.
A rally, covering a distance of one-and-half km, started from the maidan and wended its way through Sonar Peth, Atil Peth, Sunder Peth, Sashtiwada-Bordem, Bhailipeth and back to the ground.
Deputy Speaker Anant Shet inaugurated the programme in the presence of Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant, ZP member Shilpa Naik, sarpanchas and panchas of all 18 panchayats from Bicholim taluka and others.
In Curchorem, about 2,000 people, mostly students, from Quepem taluka participated in the programme. Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council Chairperson Carmelina Fernandes, Vice Chairperson Pradip Naik and other participated.
In Canacona, over 2,000 people including students participated in the run which was held from Char-Rasta junction to Mini-Sports complex at Chaudi.
Speaking on the occasion, Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who maintained unity of the nation soon after the nation gained independence. “Sardar Patel played a pivotal and statesman role to bring different states under the banner of one nation, but somehow due to the unethical political compulsions, the iron man’s contribution has been forgotten. Sardar Patel is the perfect statesman and his contribution to keep the nation united is being revived at the initiative of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi,” Tawadkar reiterated.
At Mapusa, about 10,000 people participated in the run which was flagged off by North Goa MP Shripad Naik. Others present were Art and Cultural Minister Dayanand Mandrekar, MLAs Kiran Kandolkar, Michael Lobo, Glen Ticlo and Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Sandip Falari.
Speaking on the occasion Shripad Naik said, “Our independence marked the sacrifice of many great leaders. Some may have been forgotten by us, but their sacrifices earned the freedom from the British and we are reaping the benefits of their unprecedented sacrifices.”
