PANAJI: President Ram Nath Kovind will arrive in Goa on Saturday for a two-day visit and attend a cultural event to celebrate the commencements of the 60th year of the state’s Liberation. Kovind will arrive at INS Hansa at 1:05pm, and will be received by chief minister Pramod Sawant, protocol minister Mauvin Godinho and governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
Sawant said that the arrival of the president is a matter of honour and no well-meaning, patriotic citizen would ask him not to come. “Kovind was invited to be here for Liberation day celebrations, and he agreed to come,” said Sawant.
From INS Hansa, Kovind will be flown by helicopter to the temporary helipad at Goa University.
He will then move to Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula.
At 5:40pm, will arrive at Azad Maidan to lay a wreath at the martyrs’ memorial along with Sawant, Ayush minister Shripad Naik and Koshyari.
He will then leave for the state-organised cultural function at Dayanand Bandodkar ground next to Kala Academy at 6pm. Around 400 people have been invited for the programme. The welcome song will be performed by ‘Bangrale Goem’, a local institution. Later, a Konkani-Marathi song will be showcased and a 10-minute documentary will be screened.
In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, no formal state dinner will be held. On December 20, the president has a few personal visits and is scheduled to leave from INS Hansa around 5:30pm.
Meanwhile, Sawant on Thursday appealed to freedom fighters in Goa to attend the celebrations. He said that commemorating six decades of Goa’s Liberation is a significant event, and that we are tasting the fruits of freedom due to the supreme sacrifices of our freedom fighters and martyrs.
Following criticism from the opposition that freedom fighters had not received invites from the government, a government statement said that it, through the department of information and publicity, sent invitation cards to freedom fighters. However, those who have not received them can use their freedom fighters photo identity card to gain entry at both Azad Maidan and the Dayanand Bandodkar ground.
The chief minister has appealed to freedom fighters to reach at the venue before 5pm.