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Panaji, Dec 19 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Pope Francis had said that his invitation to visit India is the "greatest gift" he had offered him, while stating that India was a shining beacon of unity in diversity to the world.

Addressing a gathering in Goa on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the state's Liberation on December 19, 1961, he said: "I was in Italy and Vatican City some time back. I got the opportunity to meet Pope Francis... I have invited him to India and I want to tell you what he said after my invitation. Pope Francis said, 'This is the greatest gift you have given me'. This is was his affection towards India's diversity and our vibrant democracy."

The Prime Minister also said that the identity of India globally is that of a country which is in service of humanity and that the whole world acknowledges India's spirit of unity in diversity.

Goa too, Modi, said was an example of how people of all communities and religions have lived together furthering the belief of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'.

"Goa is that place which has preserved the holy relics of Georgia's Queen Ketevan for centuries. Some months back, St Queen Ketevan's relics were handed over to the Georgian government. St Queen Ketevan's sacred relics were tracked to the St. Augustine Church in 2005," Modi said.

The Georgian queen was martyred in Shiraz (in present day Iran) in 1624, after she refused to convert from Christianity to Islam. She was later canonised as a saint by the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Her stoic defiance of religious persecution is believed to have inspired the followers of the Georgian Church even as they secretly carried the relics of their slain queen to Portuguese-held Goa for safe-keeping.

"Friends, during the struggle for Goa's freedom, everyone fought together, struggled together against foreign rule. The Pintos revolt was led by the native Christians. This is the identity of India. Service of humanity. The whole world acknowledges India's spirit of unity in diversity," he also said.

PM Modi inaugurates projects worth Rs 650 cr in Goa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered five infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 650 crore to the service of the nation, which includes a renovated Fort Aguada Jail Museum, a super speciality block at Goa Medical College, the new South Goa District Hospital, an Aviation Skill Development Centre at Mopa Airport and a Gas insulated Substation at Dabolim-Navelim, Margao.

The Prime Minister is in Goa on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the state's Liberation from Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961.

The re-development of Aguada Fort Jail Museum as a Heritage Tourism destination under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, has been carried out at a cost of over Rs 28 crore. Before Goa's liberation, the fort was used to incarcerate and torture freedom fighters. The Museum will highlight the contributions and sacrifices made by the prominent freedom fighters who fought for liberation of Goa and will be befitting tribute to them.

Modi also virtually inaugurated a super speciality block at the state's apex medical facility, the Goa Medical College and Hospital, which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 380 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana scheme.

Among other projects, which the Prime Minister inaugurated includes the New South Goa District Hospital, built at a cost of around Rs 220 crore, the Aviation Skill Development Centre at the upcoming Mopa Airport, built at a cost of around Rs 8.5 crore, a Gas Insulated Substation at Davorlim-Navelim, Margao has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 16 crore under Integrated Power Development Scheme of the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

Goa would not have to wait for 14 more years to be liberated from Portuguese colonial rule after India's Independence, if former Home Minister of India late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had lived longer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

Modi was addressing a gathering in Goa on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the state's Liberation on December 19, 1961.

"At least 21 freedom fighters had to give up their lives which included Veer Karnail Singh Benipal from Punjab. They were restless because a part of India was still under foreign rule. Some countrymen still had not obtained freedom," Modi said in his speech.

"I will also say on this occasion that if Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had lived for some more years, then Goa would not have to wait for long for its freedom," Modi also said.

The subject of 'delay' in the Liberation of Goa, the assimilation of the former Portuguese colony has been mentioned on several occasions by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. "I feel, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was responsible for Goa getting its freedom 14 years after India's Independence. Because of him we got freedom 14 years later. If he had political will, if he really cared about Goans, he would have wanted Goa to be free of Portuguese rule," the Goa Chief Minister had said in January 2020.

"Despite 450 years of exploitative Portuguese rule, Goa managed to keep its culture intact. We had a period of 14-year vanvas (banishment). India was already independent and for 14 years we had continued in exploitative Portuguese rule," Sawant had also said in November last year.

PM lauds Goa for topping good governance parameters 

Praising Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's governance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that apart from Goa's unique identity linked to its natural beauty, the coastal state had developed a new identity by trumping other states in fulfilling good governance parameters.

"Goa's natural beauty has always been its identity. But the incumbent government is making Goa known for another identity. This new identity is staying number one in every task," Modi said on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the state's Liberation.

"In other places, when work starts or there is some progress, Goa has already completed it. As a tourist destination, Goa has always been the choice of people, but now when it comes to good governance, Goa is at the top," the Prime Minister said.

Modi also said that the state was on the top of the states' list when it came to good governance, per capita income, reining in open defecation, making available separate toilets for girls in schools, door-to-door garbage collection, water tap connectivity, Aadhaar enrolment, food security, etc.

"I congratulate Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his team. Whatever Goa has achieved is unprecedented. What the people of Goa have done is worthy of pride," Modi said.

"I want to specially congratulate the Goa government and all residents of Goa for one new achievement -- to complete 100 per cent (Covid) vaccination. All eligible persons have been vaccinated in Goa. The second dose vaccination is going on.

"You are among the first states in the country to have done this wonder. I congratulate you," Modi also said.

"India never forgot Goa, Goa never forgot India"

Despite the fact that India gained Independence from British colonial rule 14 years before Goa, India never forgot Goa and Goa never forgot India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

The Prime Minister also harked back to history to underline the spirit of oneness in India, which achieved Independence in 1947 and Goa which was eventually liberated after 451 years of Portuguese rule by the Indian armed forces on December 19, 1961.

Modi was addressing a gathering in Goa on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the state's Liberation, after paying tribute to slain freedom fighters, who were martyred during independence struggle.

"I was observing the martyrs memorial at the Azad maidan (in Panaji). It has been modelled in the shape of four hands coming together. This is proof of the fact about how people from all corners of India came together and joined hands (to free Goa)," Modi said.

"Goa had been conquered by the Portuguese at a time when the Moghul empire ruled another part of the country. Since then the country has witnessed so many political storms. How many times did power change hands. But despite the passage of time and changes in power, Goa did not forget Indian nor did India forget its Goa. It is a relationship which has become stronger with time," Modi said.

The Prime Minister also recounted efforts made by the Maratha rulers, namely Chhatrapati Shivaji and his son Sambhaji to take on the Portuguese domination of Goa, while also mentioning the rebellion of the Cuncolim villagers in 1583, when they took on the might of the Portuguese colonists.

Modi also said that freedom fighters from the rest of India could have hung up their boots and rested on their laurels after India obtained Independence, but lauded their drive and initiative to free Goa from Portuguese rule.

"The country became independent before Goa. Most people of India had got their rights. Now was the time for them to live their own dreams. They had options to pursue governance and power. They could have accepted honours and positions. But so many freedom fighters gave up on all this and continued to struggle and sacrifice themselves for Goa's freedom," Modi said.

"The people of Goa also did not stop agitating for freedom and independence. They kept the flame of freedom burning bright for the longest period in India's history. This is because India is not just about political power, India is that thought, a family which protects human rights," the Prime Minister said.

Modi further said that 'Bharat' was a belief where the nation comes before self, above everything else. "...there is only one chant. 'Nation First'. Where there is only one resolve, 'One Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'," Modi said.

The Prime Minister also recounted the names of leading freedom fighters for their invaluable contribution to the liberation of Goa, which includes Luis de Menezes Braganza, Tristao Braganza da Cunha, Julio Menezes, Purushottam Kakodkar, Laxmikant Bhembre, Bala Raia Mapari, "So many of our freedom fighter continued agitating after independence. They suffered, they sacrificed, but did not let the movement stop," Modi said.

The Prime Minister also made a mention of freedom fighter late Mohan Ranade, who he said had continued to languish in prison even after the state's Liberation from colonial yoke.

"Remember Mohan Ranade, who was sentenced to prison for fighting in Goa's freedom movement. He was made to suffer in prison for years. Years after Goa's Liberation, he still had to languish in prison," Modi said.

"For a revolutionary like Ranade, Atal ji raised his voice in the Parliament. So many leaders from the Azad Gomantak Dal gave everything they had for the Goa freedom struggle," the Prime Minister also said.