December 17, 2014 …… The Ex-Servicemen and the ex-NCC Cadets Association paid homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and also paid tributes to Braveheart “Nirbhaya” on her death anniversary at a solemn candle lighting function held at Azad Maidan on December 16.
Tourism Minister Shri Dilip Parulekar also attended the ceremony and paid tributes to the Jawans and braveheart Nirbhaya.
Shri Parulekar lauded the organizations for their efforts in cleaning the heart of Panjim and said that regular cleaning exercise are required so that awareness is created among the people not to litter the public places.
Maj. Nair and Shri Mangiresh Pai Raikar also spoke on the occasion about significance of the day.
The day marks military victory over Pakistan in 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, who were alliance of Bangladesh Mukti Bahini . The end of the war also resulted in the unilateral and unconditional surrender of the Pakistan Army and subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh. On this day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to the allied forces consists of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini, led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora, of India in the Ramna Race Course, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka after their defeat in the war. The anniversary of Vijay Divas is observed across India by paying tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation.
The Department of Sainik Welfare and the Ex-NCC Cadets Association earlier took up a cleanliness driver at Azad Maidan as part of Swacch Bharat Nital Goem.
Secretary of Department of Sainik welfare Major Venugopal Nair, President of State Ex-Cadets NCC Association Shri Manguerish Pai Raikar, Past presdietn Adv. Avinash Bhosle, Secretary, Shri John Aguiar, Lt. Col. Austin Collaco, Shri Prabhad Mayekar, Adv. Ms. Harsha Naik ex-servicemen and others were present.
