VP Radhakrishnan launches Har Ghar Tiranga campaign in Andaman & Nicobar

Sri Vijaya Puram: Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday launched the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan’ in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by hoisting the national flag at Flag Point, Sri Vijaya Puram, on August Kranti Diwas.

Addressing a gathering at the state function and Tiranga concert, Radhakrishnan said the islands were an appropriate place to launch the campaign given their deep association with India’s freedom struggle and the history of the national flag.

Recalling the sacrifices of freedom fighters who endured ‘Kala Pani’, the Vice-President described the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a “sacred land of sacrifice”. He paid tribute to Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and other freedom fighters who suffered imprisonment in the Cellular Jail.

Radhakrishnan also recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s “Do or Die” call during the Quit India Movement in 1942 and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s hoisting of the Indian National Flag in the islands on December 30, 1943.

Calling Har Ghar Tiranga a nationwide people’s movement, he urged citizens to proudly display the Tricolour and uphold the values of courage, unity and patriotism. “Bharat is one and will always remain one,” he said.

The Vice-President highlighted the islands as an example of India’s unity in diversity and pointed to progress in connectivity, healthcare, education and infrastructure. He said the Great Nicobar Development Project would strengthen India’s maritime capabilities, connectivity and economic opportunities while balancing development with environmental conservation.

Radhakrishnan also urged citizens to remain prepared to protect India’s sovereignty and national interests, saying the country’s tradition of peace and generosity should never be mistaken for weakness.

He later attended a cultural programme and visited the Har Ghar Tiranga exhibition.