of Dadra mand Nagar Haveli were made
a part of the Indian Union. In November, 1961, a debate of the
United Nations General Assembly culminated in Portugal refusing to
give details of the conditions in its Indians enclaves as required
under the UN Charter. This resulted in the U.N. Trusteeship
Committee condemning Lisbon. Finally in December 1961, all
preparations were made to free Goa. During the night of 17 18
December, 'Operation Vijay' began. Fairly in the morning, a
battalion of Indian troops was within the firing, range of Panaji
City. However, they did not cross Mondovi River. An Indian Patrol
Party attacked
Agunda Fort and a few lives were lost in the battle
for the Fort. On 18th December, Indian troops crossed the River
Mandovi and occupied the Secretariat and the Police Headquarters.
The Navy in the meanwhile blockaded Goa and captured Anjediv
Islands. There was some very very selective bombing of a few targets
also. The Portuguese troops in Daman however, put up a very stiff
fight and surrendered only after air attacks on the morning of 19th
December. It must, however, be kept in mind that the Governor
General of Goa, Vassaloe Silva disregarded Dr. Salazar's
instructions to defend Goa to the last and thus kept the loss of
life and property to the minimum. Dr. Salazar, of course, denounced
this as an act of treason.
After Goa was liberated, the Commander of the Military forces
General Candeth became the Military Governor of Goa. On 8th June,
1962, the first Lieutenant Governor of Goa, Daman and Diu was sworn
in after the Indian Parliament passed the Constitution's 12th
Amendment Act 1962 integrating the territories of Goa, Daman and Diu
with India. On 24th September 1962, an Informal Consultative Council
was formed. In October, the same year, Panchayat elections were held
and in December General elections were held for the 2 Parliament and
thirty Assembly seats. On 20th December, 1962, the first popular
Ministry was installed. In January 1967, an Opinion Poll was held in
Goa, Daman and Diu to ascertain the wishes of the people whether Goa
should merge with Maharashtra and Daman and Diu with Gujarat States.
The people voted to remain as a Union Territory. In 1984, Goa became
a separate State in the Union of India. Daman and Diu however
continued separately as Union territories.
