What is Goa Liberation Day, History, significance

Ground Report | New Delhi: What is 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 Teleigao.

During his visit, around 2:15 pm, the Prime Minister will render floral tributes at the Martyr's Memorial, Azad Maidan, Panaji. Around 2:30 pm, he will attend the Sail Parade and flypast in Miramar, Panaji.

PM Modi is slated to open multiple development projects, including the renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum, the super-specialty block at Goa Medical College, the New South Goa District Hospital, the airport aviation skills development center of Mopa, and the gas-insulated substation in Dabolim-Navelim, Margao.

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According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), he will also lay the foundation stone for the Bar Council of India Trust's International University of Legal Education and Research in Goa.

What is Goa Liberation Day

On August 15, 1947, when India gained its independence, Goa was still crumbling under 450 years of Portuguese rule. The Portuguese were among the first to colonize parts of India and they refused to relinquish their control over Goa and other Indian territories, even after India's independence.

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Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on December 19 each year to mark the success of 'Operation Vijay' undertaken by the Indian Armed Forces that liberated Goa from Portuguese rule.

The Indian Army had conducted Operation Vijay to free Goa from the rule of Portugal. After the success of this operation, Goa joined India. Goa Liberation Day is celebrated in memory of this.

The document of "surrender" was signed by Portuguese General Manuel Antonio Vasallo A. Silva within 36 hours of the Indian Army's Operation Vijay.

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