Goa’s islanders back down, take part in naval flag hoisting event

Panaji: A day after Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant vowed to use police force to deal with villagers protesting the Indian Navy’s initiative of hoisting a national flag at the St Jacinto island in South Goa, the naval authorities in a statement said that after the “slight misunderstanding” a flag hoisting ceremony was conducted peacefully on Saturday.

“After a slight misunderstanding yesterday (Aug 13), a team from Goa Naval Area and residents amicably participated in National Flag hoisting at St Jacinto island,” the Indian Navy statement said.

“The residents also sang the National Anthem along with the Naval team during the event,” it also said.

On Friday, villagers of St Jacinto island, led by state Nationalist Congress Party president Jose Phillip D’Souza had gathered in the church square on the island to protest against the flag hoisting ceremony planned by the naval authorities.

“Navy officers came here and they said that they will hoist the flag on August 15. I want to say that whether they are from the Navy, government or any private company, we do not give this right to anyone (to hoist a national flag). The villagers are united against this. If the Navy, state and central government try to capture our island, then local villagers will never allow this,” D’Souza had said.

Following the protest the Chief Minister had said that such “anti-India” activities would be dealt with an iron fist.

“It is unfortunate and shameful that some individuals at St Jacinto Island have objected to the hoisting of the national flag by the Indian Navy on the occasion of India’s Independence Day. I condemn this and want to state on record that my Government will not tolerate such acts,” Sawant tweeted on Saturday.

“I have requested the Indian Navy to go ahead with their original plan and have assured full cooperation from Goa Police. These attempts of anti-India activities shall be dealt with an iron fist. It will always be ‘Nation First’,” Sawant also said.

Flag hoisting events are undertaken on island across the nation to instill a sense of patriotism and celebrate the run up to the 75th year of Independence, as part of the Defence Ministry’s ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative. – IANS

President Murmu nominates four members to RS; PM Modi extends best wishes

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has nominated four eminent personalities to the Rajya Sabha (RS), India's Upper House of Parliament, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. The nominated...

IDF: Struck 250 terror targets in Gaza in last 48 hours

Jerusalem: The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday said that it has been striking "terrorists" and their infrastructure in the Gaza Strip since the past two days.   Taking on...

Trump slaps 30 pc tariffs on EU, Mexico starting August 1

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Saturday issued 30 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union (EU), to renegotiate trade terms before the August 1...

Congress flags five key objections to Special Intensive Revision in Bihar

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Saturday outlined five major concerns raised by the Congress with regard to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls...

‘People asked to prove citizenship, criminals roam freely’: Supriya Shrinate slams Nitish Kumar on voter list revision

Patna: Congress social media chairperson Supriya Shrinate said on Saturday slammed the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, asserting that common people are being asked to prove citizenship, while the criminals roam...

Bangladesh erupts in protest after trader lynched in Dhaka

Dhaka: Protests have erupted across multiple college campuses and streets of Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, following the brutal killing of a scrap metal trader, Lal Chand alias Sohag, in broad daylight...

ISRO inches close to Gaganyaan mission with successful development of key engine

New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken a step closer to the Gaganyaan Mission with the successful development of a key engine. The two hot tests conducted,...

Unitech scam deepens: ED files SPC, traces global money trail and benami assets

New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has filed a second Supplementary Prosecution Complaint (SPC) before the Special Court (PMLA), in the ongoing investigation against Unitech Limited and its promoters....

Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut shares video of Maha minister Sanjay Shirsat with bag full of cash

Mumbai: A political row has erupted in Maharashtra after a video was shared on Friday on social media by Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut, who levelled serious allegations against Shiv...

NSA Doval debunks distorted foreign reportage on ‘Operation Sindoor’

New Delhi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday delivered a sharp rebuke at the distorted reportage of 'Operation Sindoor', by the foreign media and also dared it to...

Calcutta HC seeks report from Union Home Ministry on charges of migrant workers from Bengal in Delhi being deported to Dhaka

Kolkata : A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Friday, directed the Union Home Ministry to submit to the court a report on allegations that some migrant workers...

Canada will defend its workers, businesses: PM Carney responds to Trump’s tariff threat

Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to defend the country’s workers and businesses in face of the US President Donald Trumps’ proposed 35 per...

Read Previous

Restore the funds taken away from Khelo India budget, says Vijender

Read Next

Remembering Sridevi, the ‘first female superstar’ of Bollywood

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com