Manohar Parrikar, arguably the tallest leader in Goa, has been cremated with full state honours. At the last rites ceremony, the late Chief Minister was accorded military salute. Thousands of people, including civilians and politicians, attended the cremation at the Miramar beach in Panaji.
Military honours and gun salutes have been accorded to the late Goa CM, who is expected to be cremated shortly. The last rites ceremony is being attended by thousands of civilians, who chanted "Manohar Parrikar Amar Rahe" as the mortal remains were brought to the Miramar beach.
The Late Goa CM will be cremated, with full state honours, in a short while from now. Thousands have gathered at the Kala Academy in Panjim, where the antim sanskar ceremony will be held.
The Shigmo festivities, scheduled between March 21-24, have been cancelled by the State Tourism department to mourn the demise of Manohar Parrikar, the late Goa Chief Minister.
Union Minister Smriti Irani gets emotional as she pays last respects to Goa CM Manohar Parrikar. The Goa CM and former Defence Minister died on Sunday after fighting pancreatic cancer for over a year. He was suffering from the disease since January 2018 and breathed his last at the age of 63.See the Pictures in the Tweet Below:
Panaji: Union Minister Smriti Irani gets emotional as she pays last respects to Goa CM #ManoharParrikar. pic.twitter.com/NOOucOU8iO— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid last respects to Manohar Parrikar. PM Modi also spoke to Parrikar's family members.
Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pay last respects to Goa CM #ManoharParrikar pic.twitter.com/aNUC7nEJPm— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party leaders observed a two-minute silence at party's public rally in Kalaburagi, to pay last respects to late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Karnataka: Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party leaders observe two-minute silence at party's public rally in Kalaburagi, to pay last respects to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar pic.twitter.com/QbLS5ls3xn— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019
Goa BJP President Vinay Tendulkar said the swearing-in ceremony of next chief minister will happen today around 3:00 pm.
Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar: I think everything will be clear by 2 pm. The swearing-in ceremony of Goa CM will happen today around 3 pm. pic.twitter.com/lJ3c95HAv4— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019
Congress leaders in Goa have arrived at Raj Bhawan to meet Governor Mridula Sinha. Congress has twice staked claim to form a government in last seven days.
#Goa: Congress delegation meets Governor Mridula Sinha in Panaji. pic.twitter.com/pjQhHcwHxx— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019
Mortal remains of Manohar Parrikar are kept at Kala Academy in Panaji for public to pay their final respects to Parrikar. Meanwhile, the BJP is holding meetings with legislators and allies to finalise Parrikar's successor.
Panaji, March 18: Manohar Parrikar, who died at his private residence on Sunday evening after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer, will be laid to rest at 4:30 pm today. The funeral procession of Manohar Parrikar to Miraman will begin at 4:00 pm and last rites will be performed at around 5:00 pm at SAG grounds in Campal, approximately 4km from Panaji. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other ministers and politicians are expected to arrive in Goa to attend final journey of Manohar Parrikar. Catch live updates on Parrikar's funeral procession and last rites here.
Manohar Parrikar, four-time Goa Chief Minister and former Defence Minister, will be accorded a state funeral. According to the Goa CMO, Parrikar's body will be kept at the Panjim BJP head office from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. His mortal remains will be then brought at Kala Academy in Panaji for public to pay their final respects to Parrikar. His body will be kept for public viewing until 4:00 pm after which the funeral procession will be held. Antim Kriya or last rites of Parrikar will be performed at around 5:00 pm. RIP Manohar Parrikar: Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Postpones Monday’s Exam, Reschedules it to March 29.
In view of the sitting Chief Minister's death, the state government has declared seven-day mourning. The Central government has announced national mourning on Monday and the national flag will fly at half-mast all across the country. President Ram Nath Kovind was among the first to pay tributes, terming Parrikar an "epitome of integrity and dedication" and whose services to people of Goa and of India will not be forgotten. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Parrikar as "builder of modern Goa" and that the county would be "eternally grateful" to him for his tenure as Defence Minister.
Manohar Parrikar Dies at 63: Watch Life And Times of Late Goa CM
BJP President Amit Shah championed the departed as a "true patriot". Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in his condolence tweet, said: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Goa CM, Shri Manohar Parrikar Ji, who bravely battled a debilitating illness for over a year. Respected and admired across party lines, he was one of Goa's favourite sons. My condolences to his family in this time of grief." Manohar Parrikar Dies at 63: From IIT Graduate to Defence Minister — Life And Times of The Late Goa CM.
Parrikar headed the Goa government from 2000-05 and 2012-14, before joining the Narendra Modi government as Defence Minister from 2014. He assumed the mantle on four occasions from 2000, but could not complete a single full term in office. He was the country's first Indian Institute of Technology alumnus to serve as Chief Minister of a state. He returned to state politics in 2017 to lead a coalition government headed by the BJP. A widower, Parrikar is survived by his sons, Utpal and Abhijat, their wives and a grandson.