Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Goa Liberation Day programme to mark 60 years of the state's freedom from Portuguese rule on December 19 in Panaji.
"Details of his itinerary will be finalised in the coming days. Modi will participate and address the main event," a senior BJP leader told IANS.
According to a senior BJP leader, the celebrations is not only about celebrating events, but about celebrating developments too, especially in the state's rural areas. "The Prime Minister attending the celebrations will be one of his pre-election visits and few more may follow before the announcement of election dates," he said
During the year-long celebration that started last year, the BJP government held a series of exhibitions, seminars and cultural events to showcase work of the Goa government, its identity and struggle.
"Our government uses the celebration as an opportunity to strike a connection with the people ahead of the next year's Assembly election," a BJP leader said.
The coastal state was liberated from 451 years of colonial Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961 and with an eye on next year assembly elections, the BJP government has planned a grand celebration aGoa@60', party sources said.
(With inputs from IANS)
