<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">GoaLiberation Day is being celebrated today. Goa was liberated on 19th December1961, from around 450 years of Portuguese rule. Various functions have beenorganized across the state to mark the occasion.</span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi">Atthe state-level Goa Liberation Day programme held in Panaji in North Goa thismorning, speaker of Goa legislative assembly Pramod Sawant unfurled thetricolour, reviewed the parade and addressed the gathering. Mr Sawant sharedthe thoughts of chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who was unable to attend thecelebrations due to illness. <o:p /></span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi">MrSawant said Liberation Day is an occasion to salute the freedom fighters whosacrificed their lives and the Indian Army who fought for the liberation of Goafrom the oppressive Portuguese rule of around 450 years. He said Goa hasachieved remarkable progress in agriculture, education, health, infrastructureetc. in the last 56 years.<o:p /></span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi">MrSawant highlighted infrastructure projects such as the Mandovi, Zuari,Khandepar bridges as well as modernization of fishing jetties andimplementation of schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. <o:p /></span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi">Healso underscored the state IT Policy and the Chief Minister's Rojgar Yojanatowards benefiting citizens. He appealed to Goans to maintain peace and unityin the state.<o:p /></span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi">"Goalegislative assembly speaker Pramod Sawant also presented Goa Chief Minister'sFire Service Medals for meritorious service as part of Liberation Daycelebrations in Panaji. The programme, which was also attended by unionminister of state for Ayush Shripad Naik, was marked by cultural performancesby schoolchildren and the presence of freedom fighters.<o:p /></span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal;background:white"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:times new roman;color:#222222;mso-bidi-language:hi">InSouth Goa, town and country planning minister Vijai Sardesai hoisted thetricolour and paid respect to freedom fighters in Margao. Speaking on theoccasion, Mr Sardesai highlighted Goa's significant progress over the last fivedecades. Programmes to mark Liberation Day were organised across Goa's 12talukas and major towns including Mapusa, Ponda and Vasco.</span></p>''<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br />