Panaji, Dec 22 (IANS) Goa’s education department will inquire into an incident where a school run by a former minister failed to celebrate Goa Liberation Day on December 19, a government spokesperson said. The Holy Family High School located at Porvorim, a short distance from the state capital, is run by former transport minister Fatima D’Sa, who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

All schools and educational institutions in Goa are required to commemorate Goa Liberation Day on Dec 19 by unfurling the national tricolour. The Indian army had liberated Goa from the Portuguese rule on the day in 1961.

A group of Shiv Sena activists Monday staged a dharna outside the school and the education department seeking immediate action against the school management for not observing Goa Liberation Day.

Deputy Director of Education Anil Powar said that the department would initiate an enquiry into the incident. “The education department will initiate an enquiry against the school and if we find that such a thing has occurred, we will take strict action,” he told reporters here.

Jayadrath Chodankar, had who participated in the Goa freedom struggle, said it was shocking an educational institution had forgotten to honour the national flag on such an important day and demanded action against the school management.

When contacted, D’Sa said that Goa Liberation Day celebration programme could not be held at the school because the students were not present.