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On Goa Liberation Day, President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday paid homage to soldiers who laid down their lives to liberate Goa from the Portuguese rule.
"On Goa Liberation Day, the nation pays homage to the martyrs and freedom fighters who fought to liberate Goa from colonial rule. We also salute the exemplary courage and valour of our armed forces. I will forever cherish the memories of the Goa@60 celebrations I attended last year," tweeted Kovind.
Goa Liberation Day is celebrated every year on 19 December because Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule on that day in 1961, after 451 years of Portuguese rule.
After India got independence in 1947, the Portuguese still refused to give up Goa. But on 1961, the Indian Armed Forces initiated Operation Vijay, which led to the liberation of the coastal state. It was also on this day that India became completely free from the colonial rule.
Other ministers too took to Twitter to commemorate the freedom fighters and armed forces who freed Goa from the Portuguese rule.
In light of the Goa Liberation Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Goa on Sunday to attend Goa Liberation Day celebrations at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Goa's Taleigao at 3 pm.