Parrikar had arrived at Mumbai airport and waited for the two urns headed for Goa, which were flown in from New Delhi
VASCO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar arrived in the State on Wednesday evening following his second round of medical treatment in the USA and came out of the Dabolim airport carrying one of two urns containing the ashes of former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Parrikar carried one urn while Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar held the other urn, as they were accompanied by North Goa MP and Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik and South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar out of Dabolim arport.
According to reports, Parrikar had arrived at Mumbai airport and waited for the two urns headed for Goa, which were flown in from New Delhi. Parrikar then accompanied the two urns during the flight from Mumbai to Goa.
There was a huge police force deployed at Dabolim Airport to prevent any untoward incident, while traffic officials were seen clearing other vehicles at the airport.
A special pickup to carry the two urns was parked at the airport and people began to gather at the airport, hoping to pay their last respects to late Vajpayee.
As the urns arrived at Dabolim airport, police started to clear the large crowd while traffic officials started diverting taxis and other vehicles to clear the way for the urns to move towards the pickup.
A human barricade of police officials was also formed at the arrival gate to avoid a possible rush and chaos, while police placed at the counter also began diverting other passengers from the other side to clear the way for the urns.
Among the other BJP leaders present at the airport included Speaker Pramod Sawant, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, Mormugao MLA Milind Naik, former minister Rajendra Arlekar and former MLA Damu Naik.
Senior police officials like SP Arvind Gawas, SP (South) Prabodh Shirvoikar and PIs Nolasco Raposo and Shailesh Narvekar were seen monitoring the security arrangements.
The large crowd hoping to catch a glimpse of the urns were delighted to see Parrikar stepping out of the airport carrying one urn, with Tendulkar holding the other urn.
As the official CM's car was preparing to leave the airport, Parrikar insisted on personally placing the urns in the pickup and paying his homage to the departed former prime minister.
Parrikar then walked to the pickup, which was stationed at some distance from the arrival section, along with the urns, accompanied by the leaders.
The chief minister personally placed the urns below the photo of late Vajpayee in the pickup, offered his homage and then garlanded the two urns.
Parrikar did not stop there and despite his ill-health, insisted on walking behind the pickup as it moved towards the exit gate of the airport, which is about 200 metres away.
Acceding to his wishes, the pickup moved slowly towards the exit gate, with Parrikar and other leaders walking behind the pickup. Several people were moved to see the chief minister walking in a sombre manner behind the pickup.
The pickup then stopped at the exit gate and Parrikar spent a few minutes speaking to his staff, while supporters paid their respects to the ashes of late Vajpayee.
Parrikar then left the airport, while the pickup carrying the two urns left along with Shripad Naik, Narendra Savaikar, Vinay Tendulkar and Mauvin Godinho.
Several of late Vajpayee's poems and famous speeches were played on a loudspeaker mounted on the pickup as as the vehicle slowly moved out of Chicalim.
Immersion of ashes in
Mandovi, Zuari today
PANAJI: The urns containing ashes (Asti Kalasha) of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were brought to the capital Panaji in a decorated vehicle from the Dabolim airport. The vehicle having a portrait of the late Prime Minister made halts at Sancoale, Pilar junction and at three locations in Panaji - Neuginagar, the spring (Zhar) at Mala and at Sangam Lodge, Mala - where people paid their respect. The ashes will be kept to Party headquarters in Panaji overnight, where a special pandal has been erected.
On Thursday these Asti Kalasha will be taken to the two districts in North and South Goa to allow people to pay tributes.
The ashes will then be immersed in river Mandovi by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and in the Zuari river by South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar.
