the goan I network
PANAJI
Twelve days after he passed away, both sons of former chief minister Manohar Parriakar -- Utpal and Abhijat -- have pledged to carry forward their father’s “legacy of service and dedication” to Goa and the Nation, indicating a plunge into politics soon.
In a joint letter they released on Saturday, both Utpal and Abhijat said they would “honour his life” by continuing his legacy and also expressed gratitude to a number of people for the love shown to him and which got manifested in the thousands who attended his funeral.
The letter was signed by both the siblings and was posted on social media platforms, besides being released to the media through the Chief Minister’s Office.
There has been intense speculation in the last week or so that the older Parrikar sibling -- Utpal -- may join active politics and contest the bypoll to the Panaji seat which was represented by his father since 1994.
On Friday, when Utpal had a chance encounter with journalists at the Mahalaxmi Temple in Panjim where he was part of the entourage that accompanied Shripad Naik for the nomination filing exercise. He said, he had not yet given a thought to the ‘candidacy in Panaji’ issue as he was still in the mourning period. He however also added that he would think of it at the right time.
The BJP in Goa has confirmed that the two Parrikar siblings have been formally told to work with the party by the central leadership. BJP State president Vinay Tendulkar is on record that BJP vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna made the appeal when he met them days after Parrikar’s death.
Utpal and Abhijat, meanwhile, said in the letter that BJP cadres were much closer to their father than they themselves.
The bond (between Parrikar and the party cadres), the letter says, was evident when he passed away on March 17 through the outpouring of love witnessed. Their letter of appreciation also thanks the Goa government, the Central government, foreign diplomatic missions, the Indian armed forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, doctors who treated Parrikar and the VIPs who attended the funeral on March 18.
“We express our gratitude to the Government of Goa, Government of India, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, BJP, coalition allies and members of other political parties,” the two brothers said in the letter.”Above all we express our sincere gratitude to the thousands of karyakartas for their love and affection. You have been his pillars of strength throughout. We always knew that you and the people of Goa meant much more to him than even us and this bond was evident when he passed away,” they said in the letter.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SONS
In a joint letter released on Saturday, both Utpal and Abhijat say they would “honour his life”
Pledge to carry forward their father’s “legacy of service and dedication” to Goa and the Nation
Letter signed by both siblings, posted on social media, besides being released to the media through CMO
