Panaji, August 15: Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant hoisted the national flag in front of Old Secretariat in Panaji to celebrate India's 74th Independence Day on Saturday and asked people of the coastal state to work towards 'Atma Nirbar Bharat'.

"Make Goa and India 'Atma Nirbar' (self-reliant) and promote local products over foreign goods," said Sawant at the Independence Day function here. In his address, he thanked the frontline warriors for fighting relentlessly against COVID-19. Narendra Modi's Independence Day 2020 Speech Highlights: PM Speaks on Expansionism, Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, Coronavirus Vaccine in His 87-Minute Long Address From Red Fort.

Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant Hoists National Flag to CelebrateIndia’s 74th Independence Day

"I congratulate the doctors, nurses, police, and other frontline warriors. We have to respect our COVID-19 warriors as they are working very hard. The frontline warriors are fighting the pandemic without fear, just like our freedom fighters fought for our Independence," he said.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister presented the state awards to different departments for their efforts to combat COVID-19. He also awarded the people who have excelled in various fields.