Goa Chief Minister's Stern Warning As Locals Stop Navy From Unfurling National Flag

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said it was "unfortunate and shameful" that some people on the island were objecting to the hoisting of the flag, and added that his government would not tolerate such "anti-India" acts.

The navy has said that it has had to cancel its plan to unfurl the national flag on Sao Jacinto island in South Goa on the Independence Day after local residents objected to it, following which Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant requested naval authorities to go ahead with the flag hoisting programme as scheduled and gave a stern warning to the islanders that any "anti-India activities" would be dealt with an "iron fist". 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.2/2 Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said it was "unfortunate and shameful" that some people on the island were objecting to the hoisting of the flag, and added that his government would not tolerate such "anti-India" acts. As a part of the nationwide 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' programme to commemorate 75 years of Independence, the Ministry of Defence has planned unfurling of the national flag on islands across the nation between August 13 and 15, officials said. A spokesperson of the navy's INS Hansa base in Goa said on Friday that a team from Goa Naval Area visited islands of Goa including Sao Jacinto island as part of this pan-India initiative.