Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, led the State’s people in paying homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of the 152nd Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti by offering floral tributes at the statue of Gandhiji at Gandhi Chowk, Old Goa.
Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India, Shripad Naik, former Minister and local MLA, Shri Pandurang Madkaikar, Sarpanch of Se Old Goa Panchayat, Smt. Janita Madkaikar and others paid floral tributes to the memory of the great leader at his life-size statue on occasion.
Speaking on occasion Chief Minister said that Gandhiji gave a message of peace and non-violence. It was the dream of Mahatma Gandhi to keep the environment clean. Only cleanliness and non-violence can bring peace and prosperity. Today, on this occasion, let us take an oath that we will keep our territory, village, city and alternatively the entire country clean, will not allow violence and will endure to make Goa as well as India self-sufficient.
The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to pay his last respects to Gandhiji. Underlining the importance of cleanliness Chief Minister stated that my Government has paid homage to Gandhiji in the true sense of the word by implementing an open defecation-free State.
The Chief Minister said that Gandhiji is the living symbol of simple living and high ideology. His life is inspiring and imitating to the masses due to his simple lifestyle, intense patriotism, intimacy with the common man and clarity of thought.
Religious leaders Siddesh Paranjape, Fr Patricio Fernandes and Hazarat Maulana Mobinnuddin Yaar Alviji, recited verses from the Bhagwad Gita, Bible and Quran.
Kala Academy choir group sang bhajans on occasion.
Sarpanch of Se Old Goa, Smt. Janita Madkaikar welcomed while Pradip Naik compered the function.
Later Dr. Pramod Sawant, Shri Shripad Naik and other dignitaries attended the function organised by Se Old Goa Village Panchayat to celebrate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, late Lal Bahadur Shastri, at the panchayat premises and offered floral tributes.
