An uneasy calm mixed with caution and then a sudden feeling of being omitted from the definition of Manohar Parrikar’s legacy. Both sons of late Manohar Parrikar “ Utpal and Abhijat pledged to carry forward the legacy of their father while throwing enough hints of taking a plunge into politics in the near future. In a joint ‘thank you’ letter released by the Chief Minister’s office and also posted on social media platforms, the two expressed their gratitude to a host of dignitaries “ Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, State government, foreign diplomatic missions, armed forces, doctors, VIPs, RSS, BJP members, coalition partners, political parties and those who attended the funeral. Surprisingly, not to find a mention was the Catholic Church led by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, which shared a special bond with the chief minister and were a crucial part of his legacy.
Parrikar’s legacy revolved around his concept of inclusiveness. He was known to have forged excellent relations with the church, and the bond remained intact despite the few controversies that surfaced on and off. The Archbishop not only paid glowing tributes to the leader but promptly sent out a condolence message highlighting Parrikar’s support to the Church and terming his departure as a ‘big loss to the State’. The Church leadership was among the many dignitaries at the funeral, and Parrikar came in for high praise for his “great acumen” in the political administration and for being always considerate towards the developmental needs of the people of this land.
The highlight of Parrikar’s legacy is about his engagement with the Church and people from diverse fields. It is this bonding that helped the BJP come out unscathed in Goa even while it was facing a backlash across the nation over its tough Hindutva posturing. When the BJP was seen with skepticism and slammed elsewhere, the Church in Goa backed Parrikar to the hilt and played a monumental role in installing his government in 2012. The level of trust was enormous and his constant engagement on some crucial issues, including policy decisions, is testimony to that fact. That’s not all. It was his vision to bring the minorities closer to the BJP with his much-talked-about Mission Salcete, a mission which the current regime preferred to call off.
If Parrikar’s legacy is to be pursued, either by the Parrikar siblings or by the newly inducted RSS-rooted Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, then the Church cannot be kept out. With Parrikar’s departure, the Church has been treading a cautious path and the trust hangs by a thin thread of hope. A slight gesture of ill-will can have disastrous consequences especially since the strong RSS leanings are openly on display now. If Utpal and Abhijat are serious about following Parrikar’s legacy, they have to take everyone along “ irrespective of caste and religion. It’s not entirely about a ‘thank you’, but more about the winds of change.
