Manohar Parrikar dead: Goa CM, Former Defence Minister of India passes away

Manohar Parrikar, the Chief Minister of Goa and the former Defence Minister of India passed away on the 17th of March after a yearlong battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Parrikar was 63.

Reports about Parrikar’s deteriorating health were making rounds since the past few days. However, these suspicions were confirmed by the official Twitter account of the Goa Chief Minister’s Office.

@GoaCM Twitter account posted: Chief Minister @manoharparrikar’s health condition is extremely critical. Doctors are trying their best.

A Man Who Didn’t Back Down: RIP Manohar Parrikar

Following his cancer diagnosis, the Goa CM went to the US to get treatment in February 2018. However, his health deteriorated after his return and he was being treated by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi since then.

Manohar Parrikar’s public appearances became limited following the ailment and he worked mostly from his residence. However, over the past few months, he was spotted at numerous public events. The sight of Manohar Parrikar at these events was quite a strong political statement – that of a man who refused to surrender to an ailment and continued working for his people.

Seen mostly with a tube in his nose and wearing a cap, Parrikar’s iconic moustache was also missing – it was a sight which will be remembered for ages. His strong will to serve the public of Goa saw him defy the odds and make multiple public appearances during his final months.

Manohar Parrikar Passes Away: Reactions from Political Leaders

A number of politicians from across the political spectrum tweeted their condolence messages and remembered Manohar Parrikar. Ramnath Kovind, The President of India, was among the first few to tweet.

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 of India will not be forgotten #PresidentKovind

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 17, 2019

Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted: Deeply saddened and pained by the demise of my dear friend & Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Manohar Parrikar. He was known for his honesty, integrity and simplicity. He served the nation and the state of Goa with great diligence. My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family.

Smriti Irani, the Union Cabinet Minister for Textiles, tweeted: Manohar Parrikar leaves behind many admirers, many who looked upon him as an idol. My condolences to his loved ones, colleagues & supporters. Om Shanti

Minister of Railways and Coal, Piyush Goyal tweeted:

Extremely saddened to know about the sad demise of our beloved and stalwart leader Shri Manohar Parrikar Ji. His exemplary leadership will continue to inspire us and serve as a benchmark.

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) March 17, 2019

BJP President Amit Shah tweeted his condolence messages saying: Entire BJP stands firmly with Parrikar ji’s family. I along with millions of BJP karyakartas and importantly the people of Goa, who were his family, express my deepest condolences. May God give the bereaved family strength to withstand this tragic loss. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.

Members of the opposition too, spoke highly of Parrikar. Rahul Gandhi tweeted:

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.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 17, 2019

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: Extremely saddened at the news of passing away of Goa CM Sh Manohar Parrikar ji. A symbol of simplicity in politics who led a humble life is no longer with us. May his family bear the irreparable loss with courage. Prayers with them

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted over Parrikar’s passing, saying:

My condolences to the bereaved family of Shri. Manohar Parrikar. I met him only once, when he graciously visited my mother at the hospital two years ago. May his soul rest in peace.

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 17, 2019

Tweets on Parrkiar’s Passing

Apart from political leaders, a number of other eminent members of the society, as well as the public at large, tweeted their homage to the Goa CM.

Mohandas Pai tweeted: @manoharparrikar We will miss you Manoharmam. You are truly a great Indian,Patriotic,a nationalist,a great Goan,a great Konkani who loved India and Goa! Your entire life was devoted to Goa and India: Your life is an inspiration to all of us! Om Shanthi!

@manoharparrikar @goacm no more
He lived a life of simplicity, frugal in habits and honest in execution
An academic topper, who went on from IIT to becoming a much-loved administrator
Served as @DefenceMinIndia and died in harness. Worked to the very end
Bhawpoorn Shradhnjali pic.twitter.com/uvLrHuaehm

— Siddharth Zarabi (@szarabi) March 17, 2019

Sadanand Dhume tweeted: Sad to hear that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has passed away. He was a rare Indian politician who set standards for both probity and efficiency in public life, and whose appeal to voters transcended caste and religion. Om Shanti.

Singer Lata Mangeshkar also posted a condolence message on Twitter, saying: Goa ke Mukhya Mantri Manohar Parrikar ji ke nidhan ki vaarta sunkar mujhe bahut dukh hua,unke aur hamare bahut acche sambandh the.Unke jaane se hamare desh ki bahut haani hui hai,ek atyant saccha insaan aur neta desh ne kho diya hai. Ishwar unki aatma ko shanti pradan kare.

Who Would Succeed Manohar Parrikar as Goa CM? 

Following the death of Manohar Parrikar, the question that rises is that of succession. The Indian National Congress has been trying to prove their majority in the government for quite some time. The most recent claim to form the government came on the 16th of March, a day before Parrikar’s death.