Goa CM Manohar Parrikar passes away

The central government has announced national mourning on Monday. Goa to observe seven days of state mourning.
His last rites will be performed at Miramar in Panaji on Monday evening.
Parrikar's mortal remains will be kept at the BJP head office from 9.30 am to 10.30 am.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar died at his private residence near Panaji on Sunday. He was 63.

A four-term chief minister and former defence minister, Parrikar had been battling a pancreatic ailment since February last year.

The Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart's health, which has been fluctuating for over a year, took a turn for the worse in the past two days.

Sources said Parrikar was put on life support system late on Saturday night.

"The chief minister died around 6.40 pm Sunday," a senior state government official told PTI.

Parrikar is survived by his two sons and their families.

His last rites will be performed at Miramar in Panaji on Monday evening, a BJP spokesperson said.

Parrikar's mortal remains will be kept at the BJP head office from 9.30 am to 10.30 am on Monday, before shifting them to the Kala Academy, the spokesperson said.

People will be allowed to pay their last respects to the chief minister at the academy between 11 am and 4 pm, he said.

Parrikar's final journey will begin after 4 pm when his remains will be taken to Miramar area in a procession, the spokesperson said, adding that the final rites will be performed at 5 pm.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the last rites ceremony.

Parrikar, who rose from a pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to become the country's defence minister and also chief minister of Goa,
enjoyed a man-next-door image in the politically-volatile coastal state.

He was a leader who enjoyed acceptance from all sections of the BJP and beyond. He played a key role in making the BJP a force to reckon with in Goa, which remained for long a Congress bastion, with regional outfits having pockets of influence.

Born on December 13, 1955 into a middle class family, his political career began as an RSS pracharak and he continued working for the Sangh even after graduating from IIT-Bombay as a metallurgical engineer.

Parrikar entered electoral politics in 1994 when he won on a BJP ticket from Panaji constituency.

He was the defence minister from November 2014 to March 2017.

The central government has announced national mourning on Monday.

Goa will observe seven days of state mourning from March 18 to March 24, both days inclusive.

'During the period, National Flag will fly at Half Mast on all the buildings across Goa and there'll be no official entertainment,' the government of Goa said.

The Union Cabinet will meet on Monday to condole the demise of Parrikar. The special cabinet meeting would be held at 10 am.

A two-minute would be observed in his memory and a resolution would also be passed hailing Parrikar's contribution as a public figure, official sources said.

In a tweet, President Ram Nath Kovind said, 'Extremely sorry to hear of the passing of Shri Manohar Parrikar, chief minister of Goa, after an illness borne with fortitude and dignity.

'An epitome of integrity and dedication in public life, his service to the people of Goa and India will not be forgotten,' the President tweeted from his official handle.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, 'Shri Manohar Parrikar was an unparalleled leader. A true patriot and exceptional administrator, he was admired by all. His impeccable service to the nation will be remembered by generations. Deeply saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti.'

'Shri Manohar Parrikar was the builder of modern Goa. Thanks to his affable personality and accessible nature, he remained the preferred leader of the state for years. His pro-people policies ensured Goa scales remarkable heights of progress.

'India will be eternally grateful to Shri Manohar Parrikar for his tenure as our Defence Minister. When he was RM, India witnessed a series of decisions that enhanced India's security capacities, boosted indigenous defence production and bettered the lives of ex-servicemen,' Modi said in a series of tweets.

BJP president Amit Shah tweeted, 'Manohar Parrikar ji's demise is extremely painful. In him, the nation has lost a true patriot who selflessly dedicated his entire life to the country and ideology. Parrikar ji's commitment towards his people and duties was exemplary.'

Despite his falling health, Parrikar had presented two state budgets in 2018 and 2019 and had attended public functions, including the inauguration of an iconic bridge across River Mandovi.

Several political leaders, including Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant and Lok Sabha MP Narendra Sawaikar, started arriving at the private residence of Parrikar in Dona Paula after the news of his demise broke.