To resolve the connectivity problem faced by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri Modi laid the foundation of the Submarine Optical Fiber Scheme in 2018 and in 2020 he inaugurated it

Shri Narendra Modi has created a new culture where the foundation of a project is laid by his government and the inauguration is also done by his government

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Shri Amit Shah, on the first day of his three-day Andaman-Nicobar today visited the Martyrs Column located at the historic Cellular Jail in Port Blair and paid homage to all the martyrs including the great freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. Shri Amit Shah also visited the Cellular Jail. He flagged off Go-Go tourist buses. Several dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral (Retd) DK Joshi and the Union Home Secretary were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the program organized to commemorate the Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Shri Amit Shah said that he has got a chance to visit this pilgrimage site for the second time and whenever he comes here, the visit instils new energy and inspiration. He said that this is the place where many Freedom Fighters knowingly or unknowingly proclaimed Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai even after suffering inhuman tortures and making sacrifices during their lives. This cellular jail built by the British is the a very important place of pilgrimage and that is why Savarkar ji used to say that this is a great pilgrimage among the pilgrimages, where many dead souls have sacrificed to ignite the flame of freedom.

Shri Amit Shah said that his visit to this pilgrimage place is important because this year is the 75th year of our Independence and we are celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. It is a year to dedicate ourselves once again to the country by taking inspiration from the Freedom Struggle and it is the year to make a resolution about how great India will be when the nation celebrates 100 years of its Independence. The Union Home Minister said that that is why the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has decided to celebrate this year as the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence with great enthusiasm and the people of the country are not only happy with this decision but also excited to participate in it. Shri Shah said that on this occasion he respectfully bows to the sacrifices and resolve of thousands of Freedom Fighters.

The Union Home Minister said that today is Vijayadashami and this day is celebrated as a symbol of victory of good over evil and this pilgrimage site of freedom also signifies the victory of good over evil. It was here that it was resolved that no one can enslave India, no matter how powerful the government, it has no right to enslave this great country. He said that it is the 75th year of the country's Independence and under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, India has established its place in the world as a first-rate democratic country and today the souls of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation must be in peace. Shri Amit Shah said that now under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the path on which India has progressed and the path on which we are standing on after seven long years, is not a path to turn back on but to move forward on. This path is the way to move India forward in the vision of brave Freedom Fighters like Savarkar, Sanyal and Bhai Parmanand.

Shri Amit Shah said that today when he visited the cell of the freedom hero Sachin Sanyal and garlanded his portrait, it was an emotional moment for him. Among the freedom fighters, Sachin Sanyal was the only person who was punished twice in the Andamans (Kalapani). West Bengal has made a huge and special contribution in the freedom struggle. He said that the maximum number of Freedom Fighters came here from Bengal and Punjab. It is a matter of pride for the country that even when Sachin Sanyal returned after suffering so much torture, he did not stop the struggle against the British and did not stop his campaign to free Mother India from the chains of slavery.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that how can we live without remembering Veer Savarkar. Savarkar ji did the work of making the Cellular Jail a place of pilgrimage. He gave a message to the whole world that no matter how much torture, no matter how inhuman you behave, you cannot stop my birth right to free my country and this was accomplished by Veer Savarkar here. Shri Shah said that today he saw the places where Savarkar ji was tortured over ten years, and that Savarkar could not have imagined the atrocities he endured and also those endured by the many Freedom Fighters who were hanged and yet Veer Savarkar remained firmly associated with the Freedom Struggle.

Shri Amit Shah said that Veer Savarkar was not given the title of Veer by the government or administration, but 130 crore people have added the word Veer before Savarkar ji's name to acknowledge his valour and patriotism. He said that today some people are questioning the life of Savarkar ji, it hurts, that the patriotism of the person who was punished twice in the same life is being questioned. You are questioning the bravery of the person who decided to fight for India by jumping from a steamer several kilometres away from French soil. You are questioning the patriotism of the person who was facing the punishment of extracting 30 pounds of oil by replacing an ox in a crusher. Those who question the patriotism of Savarkar should be ashamed. Once you visit this pilgrimage place, all your doubts will be dissolved.

Shri Amit Shah said that there was an immortal Jyoti in the memory of freedom fighters which inspired the whole of India for 24 hours and 365 days and Veer Savarkar's name was on it and it was uprooted. But, that period is over and today Veer Savarkar's name is placed there again with pride. He said that Savarkar ji also had all the facilities that he could live his personal life in comfort and he was a very learned person and knew many languages. He was a great social reformer, Freedom Fighter, an energetic speaker and Goddess Saraswati had great grace on his writings. He was a great thinker, litterateur and so heroic that he was punished twice in the Andamans (Kalapani), and a controversy arose about such a person. But the people of the country have added the word 'Veer' before Savarkar's name with great respect and reverence, which no one can erase.

The Union Home Minister said that his life's dedication to the country and his great spirit of patriotism is an example that when Savarkar ji's body became weak, he gave a message that my body is no longer in a position to work for Mother India and I want to immerse my body. He is the man who immersed himself in the service of Mother India, for ten years of his life here and that is why this is a great pilgrimage among the pilgrimages, that is why for the youth of India It is a place of inspiration and that is why by visiting this place one receives energy, inspiration and power.

Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has decided to celebrate the Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi so that countrymen and especially the younger generation get information about the Freedom Struggle. Let our young generation get an idea of ​​the valour and contribution of many known and unsung martyrs. Shri Shah said that on the one hand, through the Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi, this an opportunity for the younger generation to once again inculcate the spirit of patriotism to do something for the country and on the other hand how to make this country great, as the Prime Minister always says. The pledge of India First must be taken.

The Union Home Minister called upon the youth of the country that we were born only after Independence, we did not get a chance to die for the country, but can we live for the country. He said that if we take this decision, then there can be no better occasion than the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and no better place than the Cellular Jail. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a dream to connect the youth of the country with the resolve to develop the country, the future of the country and make the country great. Shri Amit Shah said that I am very proud that I have come to this pilgrimage site to pay homage to the souls who laid down their lives for the country, on the occasion of the Amrit Mahotsav of Freedom.

Shri Amit Shah said that the history of this jail is that from the revolution of 1857 to 1938, Freedom Fighters who were creating problems for the British were brought here. About a thousand Freedom Fighters spent the best years of their lives here in suffering. Many people died here and many people even lost their mental balance, but they did not bow down to the British. After the Revolution of 1857, 90 percent of the people who were brought here were cultural scholars, landowners, great Freedom Fighters and warriors. Such people were given the work of building a jail against wages, but still they did not apologize. They did not let the flame of patriotism extinguish even for a moment and continued to fight for freedom. The Union Home Minister said that many people did not know how many people came here from the Revolution of 1857 till Independence. Phadke ji from Maharashtra, freedom fighters from Manipur, the Ghadar Movement warriors from Punjab and Anushilan Samiti of Bengal came and Freedom Fighters in the Alipore case were brought here. He said that there is a long list of such brave Freedom Fighters who suffered here for Mother India.

Shri Amit Shah said that I want to appeal to the youth across the country that we cannot imagine the countless tortures inflicted on the Freedom Fighters until we see the torture site of this great pilgrimage centre of the Cellular Jail. This is a classic example of how the brutal British rule tried to break the spirit and morale of the individual. He appealed to all countrymen to come here once and pay homage to the martyrs. The Union Home Minister said that Veer Savarkar and other freedom fighters composed many compositions here which still inspire the youth for patriotism and nation building. Shri Amit Shah said that due to the efforts of these martyrs, we are free today. Today with pride, we are the world's largest democracy, its foundation was laid by these great Freedom Fighters.

The Union Home Minister said that Shri Narendra Modi has begun a change in the country since 2014, on which we can be proud, any Indian will be proud of this. Shri Narendra Modi has started the creation of a new type of India from 2014, which will also be proud of its culture and history, all modern needs and there will be excellence in terms of development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the initiative to create an India which will be safe, prosperous and cultured.

Shri Amit Shah said that to resolve the connectivity problem in Andaman and Nicobar, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation of the Submarine Optical Fibre Scheme in 2018 and in 2020 it was inaugurated by Shri Narendra Modi. Shri Modi has created a new work culture, first the government used to make plans, after 5 years the second government used to lay the foundation, the third government used to form the government and the fourth government used to inaugurate it. Shri Amit Shah said that Shri Narendra Modi has created a new culture, the foundation is also done by his own government and the inauguration is also done by his own government. He said that it is a classic example of how to run a government from the point of view of development and administration and it is visible in Andaman and Nicobar also. Laying the foundation in the year 2018 and inaugurating it in 2020. He said laying an underwater cable of Rs.1,224 crore, connecting major islands and providing a 200 Gbps telecommunications band in Port Blair and 100 Gbps in other islands has been completed in two years.

The Union Home Minister said that the airlift point was also built by Shri Narendra Modi. Netaji came here and if any territory in India has the honour of being independent from the British, then Andaman and Nicobar has this honour. The national flag of India was first hoisted here in 1943 by Netaji and our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has hoisted the 100 feet high Tricolor at the same place. Three islands have also been renamed, Havelock Island has been renamed as Swarajdeep, as a tribute to all these great souls. Neil Island was named as Shaheed Dweep to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives here and Ross Island was named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep because Subhash Chandra Bose had liberated this land for a short period of 2 years. Now this island has attained freedom for eternity, for eternity. Its symbol is Subhash Chandra Bose Island, hence its name.

Shri Amit Shah said that 20 MW Ground Mountain Solar Power Plant has been set up in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the use of electric cars and buses has been increased, 500 passenger and 150 cargo ships have been started, smart metering work has been completed. Drinking water has been arranged by increasing the height of Dhani Gulf dam, a medical college has been started in 2015. Work has started at a fast pace under the Jal Jeevan Mission, about 478 loans have been sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Svanidhi Yojana. 100 percent target has been achieved under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna, one nation one ration card has been implemented here, 129 Health and Wellness Centres have been started as against a target of 95.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that the work of making Andaman and Nicobar smoke-free has been done under the leadership of the Prime Minister, so that women do not have to cook food by burning kerosene or wood like in other parts of the country. He said that once again, knowingly, unknowingly, many martyrs and those fighting for freedom across the country, who dedicated the best period of their lives at the feet of Mother India while some people sacrificed their whole lives. Many people left their studies and immersed themselves in the Freedom Movement and  spent their future lives dedicated to Mother India, I bow to the sacrifice and dedication of all of them and once again salute the memory of the brave warrior Savarkar ji.

NW/RK/RR