the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa’s son-of-the-soil Manohar Parrikar mortal’s remains were consigned to flames on Monday at a funeral with full military and state honours at Miramar beach where the sun, land and water meet with a setting sun in the background. The last rites were performed on the beachfront adjoining the memorial to Goa’s first chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar.
His son Utpal performed the last rites in the presence of his younger brother Abhijat and other relatives as thousands thronged the venue including the who’s who from across the nation.
The funeral procession started from the Kala Academy where thousands, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid their last respects to the former defence minister.
The police made elaborate arrangements through the route of the procession from Kala Academy to the venue for the ‘Antim Kriya’ at Miramar, converting the AB Road and other roads leading to the Kala Academy into a sea of humanity.
BJP President Amit Shah, Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari, Maharastra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Education Minister of Maharastra Vinod Tawade, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Actor Nana Patekar, BJP leader Kirit Somayya, Maharastra leader Ashish Shelar were among those who offered floral tributes to Parrikar.
Parrikar, 63, is survived by two sons, two daughter in-laws and a grandson.
His death has triggered a political crisis in Goa, with the BJP being unable to come up with a alternative Chief Ministerial candidate, who is acceptable to coalition allies.
Earlier, the capital city -- Panaji -- witnessed an emotional final journey. Parrikar’s mortal remains wrapped in tricolour were brought to the BJP headquarters from his private residence at Dona Paula in the morning in a military truck escorted by defence personnel.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, top bureaucrats, officials and many other State leaders along with BJP functionaries paid their respects to Parrikar at the party office.
