October 2, 2015 …. Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar led the state in paying homage to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi by offering floral tributes at Gandhi Chowk in old Goa on the occasion of ”146th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today.
The Chief Minister said that Gandhiji gave a message of peace and non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi was a great person who struggled a lot and played a significant role in the achievement of freedom for India from British rule. He not only pioneered the unique method of non-violence to get freedom for India against British rule but also proved the world that freedom can be achieved peacefully through the path of non-violence. He is still remembered among us as the symbol of peace and truth.
The Chief Minister said that Mahatma Gandhi never compromised on cleanliness. Let us all contribute to make Goa and surroundings clean and at the same time we must keep ourselves clean and let us have a clean administration in the state of Goa. Let us take a pledge to keep and maintain cleanliness and contribute in making clean Goa by the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Chief Minister said that Mahatma Gandhi-ji was the man of simple living and high thinking which has been set as an example to us. He was very against to the smoking, drinking, untouchability, and non-vegetarianism.
Today he said is also the birth anniversary of our e Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. During short period as Prime Minister he showed that he possessed wonderful power to face every problem bravely.
On the occasion the Chief Minister paid his tributes to the memory of these great leaders.
Union Minister of State of State for Aayush (Independent Charge) , Health and family welfare, Shri Shripad Naik, former minister and local MLA, Shri Pandurang Madkaikar, MLA, Shri Shri Sidharth Kunkalienkar, Chief Secretary, Shri R. K. Srivastava, former Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sawant, Sarpanch of Se Old Goa panchayat, Shri Vinayak Phadte, Shri Dharma Chodankar, Collector North Smt. Nila Mohanan, Addl. Collector Shri swapnil Naik and others paid floral tributes on the occasion.
Verses and Prayers were read out from the holy books of all the religions by Maulana Rafiq Ahmed Sahib, Fr Savio Barretto, and Mr Ritesh Paranjape on the occasion.
Smt. Prachala Amonkar a well known vocalist from Kala Academy presented ”bhajans” at the function which was attended by a large number of school children.
Later the Chief Minister and other dignitaries will attend 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 offer floral tributes.
Director of Information & Publicity Shri Arvind Bugde, Superintendent of Police North, Shri Umesh Gaonkar, SDPO Panaji Shri Serafin Dias, SDO and Deputy Collector Shri Gourish Shankwalkar, Information Officer Shri John Aguiar, Dy. S.P. (Traffic) Shri Dharmesh Angle and others were present on the occasion.
