Updated on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 00:00 IST

Panaji, April 22: As the Goa University has planned three-day programme to celebrate the 35th anniversary of April revolution in Portugal, freedom fighters in this erstwhile Portuguese colony has condemned the act.

The freedom fighters have said that the glorification and celebration of the April revolution in Portugal, which bestowed democracy in that country, was unwanted.

Goa University's Portuguese Department in association with 'Instituto Camoes' in Panaji has planned three-day programme beginning from April 24 to commemorate the event.

"Why should institution like Goa University get associated with celebrations of the things which happened in Portugal? Do we lack in national days? We have so many national days, which are forgotten by the university," renowned freedom fighter and active member of All Goa Freedom Fighters' Association, Naguesh Karmali, said.

Karmali said that if Portuguese-sponsored institutions are holding the functions in Goa, let them have but not the institution like Goa University.

Goa was liberated from the colonial rule in 1961 after a long freedom struggle.

"Do we celebrate birthday of British Queen? Or do we celebrate French Revolution? They had also ruled India. We don't celebrate them because they are not our national days. Why should we pamper Portugal?" Karmali questioned.

The Goa University has planned the celebration to commemorate April revolution, which is also called as the Carnation Revolution.

According to historians, the event was a Left leaning military's coup started on April 25, 1974 in Lisbon (Portugal).

It changed the Portuguese regime from an authoritarian dictatorship to a democracy after two years of a transitional period characterised by social turmoil and power dispute between Left and Right wing political forces.

When contacted Goa University officials stated that the activity has nothing to do with 'glorifying Portugal'. "It is an activity of Portuguese department. It's purely an academic activity," he added.

Bureau Report