Goa CM Pramod Sawant said, “The flag will be hoisted on the island at any cost and I have asked the officials to ensure that the tricolor is hoisted there.
The Navy said it has canceled its plan to hoist the national flag on the island of Sao Jacinto in South Goa on Independence Day after local residents objected to it, prompting state Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to ask naval officials to hoist it. Requested to go ahead with the scheduled programme. Tricolor there, and also warned the islanders that “anti-India activities” would be dealt with with an “iron fist”.
So Jacinto residents, however, made it clear that they were not opposed to the flag hoisting, but feared Sunday’s naval event could be the start of the central government’s capture of the island under major port authorities. Future Bill, 2020.
Sawant said the flag hoisting would take place on the island “at any cost” and assured full cooperation to the Navy from the Goa Police for the event.
Officials said the Defense Ministry has planned to hoist the national flag on islands across the country from August 13 to 15 as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to mark 75 years of independence.
A spokesman of the Navy’s INS Hansa base near Dabolim in the state said on Friday that a team from the Goa Naval Area visited the islands of the state, including Sao Jacinto, as part of this pan-India initiative.
“However, the plan on Jacinto Island had to be canceled due to objections from local residents,” he said. The Navy official said the nationwide ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative has been launched to inculcate the spirit of patriotism and celebrate the 75th year of Independence.
The island of Sao Jacinto is located about four kilometers from the INS Hansa base and is home to about 100 families.
Anthony Rodrigues, who owns the land where the Navy planned to hoist the flag, said he had already given Navy officials their consent for the event, but some local residents expressed apprehension.
He said, “Several local residents came to my residence, asking me why I had given a place to hoist the flag. They are apprehensive that the Navy may occupy the island in future. So I told the Navy about the objections expressed by the local people. told about it.” .
Another resident, Custodio D’Souza, said the issue was not about hoisting the national flag.
“We have no objection to the Indian Navy participating in the Independence Day event,” he said, adding that the islanders are concerned that the central government may take over the island in future under the Major Ports Authorities Bill, 2020.
D’Souza said residents were concerned that the Mormugao Port Trust could take over the island under the law. He recalled that the inhabitants of the island had taken a vow a few years ago not to sell their land to anyone.
Another resident said, “We want to protect our island under any circumstances. We are facing threats from different areas, including the Coastal Zone Management Plan.”
Reacting to the Navy’s announcement to cancel the flag hoisting event, CM Sawant took to Twitter late on Friday night saying, “It is unfortunate and shameful that some people on the island of St. Jacinto have protested against the unfurling of the national flag by the Indian Navy on the occasion.” On India’s Independence Day. I condemn it and want to state on record that my government will not tolerate any such act.
“I have requested the Indian Navy to go ahead with its original plan and have assured full cooperation from Goa Police. These attempts of anti-India activities will be dealt with strictly. It will always be nation first,” he said.
Speaking at Saligao on the sidelines of a rally on Saturday, the chief minister said, “The flag will be hoisted on the island at any cost and I have asked the officials to ensure that the tricolor is hoisted there.”
.