the goan I network
PANAJI
The ashes of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who died on March 17 and was interred the next day will be immersed on Tuesday in the Mandovi and Zuari rivers and their tributaries across constituencies, the Bharatiya Janata Party said on Monday.
Urns containing the ashes were on Monday distributed to party functionaries from various parts of Goa at a function held in the courtyard of the party headquarters in Panjim.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his cabinet ministers, besides MLAs and party State president Vinay Tendulkar and party functionaries and leaders from across the State attended.
Earlier, addressing a press conference, Tendulkar said the ashes will be immersed ceremoniously in all constituencies on Tuesday by party workers and supporters in Mandovi and Zuari and their tributaries besides other rivers in the State.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar said the ‘Shudhikaran’ (purification) ritual that was allegedly conducted by a set of four Hindu priests on Saturday last at the Kala Academy, “was wrong” and it should not have been done.
He said the party will seek action against those responsible for the episode, when told
that Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude had said no action will be taken after he had inquired into the matter and ascertained that no ‘shudhikaran’ ritual was performed.
Gaude initially had reacted strongly and said he had ordered an inquiry after reports had emerged that rituals were conducted at the Kala Academy exactly at the site where Parrikar’s body lay in State for people and VVIPs to pay last respects on Monday last.
Gaude had also posted on social media site that it was objectionable that such rituals based on unscientific beliefs were performed inside a government building. He had promised strict action against those responsible in his post on Facebook but on Sunday he retracted saying his inquiries and discussion with staffers had revealed that no such ritual was held.
Govt plans book
on Parrikar
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday invited journalists as well as party workers to write essays on their memories of late Manohar Parrikar which he said the State government will publish in book form.
He said, old pictures and articles are being sourced and added that Parrikar’s ideas should reach every school.
