Parrikar waves to media persons in the city as he heads home from the airport on Thursday evening.
PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar returned to Goa from the United States after nearly four months of absence from the state for treatment.
Parrikar who landed shortly after 6 pm walked out of the airport to his waiting official vehicle and headed straight for his residence at Dona Paula accompanied by his two sons -- Utpal and Abhijat.
On his way from the US, Parrikar had a stopover at Mumbai where he landed.
The BJP party issued a statement expressing its happiness to see the Chief Minister return to Goa.
“We at the BJP pray for a very happy and healthy life ahead for the Chief Minister and are confident that Goa will march ahead with development under his dynamic leadership,” BJP media cell coordinator Sandesh Sadhale said also thanking people, workers, press, well-wishers who prayed for a speedy recovery.
The Chief Minister will not immediately report to work and the cabinet meeting that was to be called on Friday has been postponed. However, by Monday, he is expected to resume office.
It is as yet unclear whether the Chief Minister will be in a position to report to the secretariat on a daily basis or whether he will operate from the confines of his home.
Either way, the Chief Minister is expected to keep public interactions and engagements to a minimum.
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Trademark smile, wave as he
arrives at Dabolim airport
RECEPTION AT AIRPORT
* Parrikar arrived by an Air India flight and was welcomed by both his sons and Health Minister* A lot of people gathered at the airport and they were pleased to see Parrikar smiling and waving
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VASCO: It was Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's trademark smile and wave to the crowd, as he arrived at the Dabolim airport on Thursday evening, after being away for over three months to undergo treatment in the USA.
Parrikar arrived by an Air India flight from Mumbai and was welcomed by both his sons, Utpal and Abhijat, and Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, amid tight police security.
Anticipating Parrikar's arrival at the airport, a lot of people gathered at the airport to catch a glimpse of the chief minister and they were pleased to see Parrikar smiling on his arrival and waving out to them and the media persons at Dabolim airport.
A large police force from police stations across Mormugao taluka was deployed at the airport for the security and Mormugao DySP Sunita Sawant was seen instructing the PI's Nolasco Raposo, Ninad Devulkar and Shailesh Narvekar of police station across Mormugao Taluka and their staff to maintain a cordon and clear the way for the arriving chief minister.
The taxi drivers and hotel reps were directed to make way for the chief minister and to stay clear from the Arrival Gate no 2 of the Dabolim Airport.
Traffic police at the airport was also seen making sure that private vehicles and taxis did not block the CM's convoy at the airport.
DGP Muktesh Chander and SP South Dinraj Govekar was also at the airport to greet the chief minister on his arrival.
Incidentally, besides Rane, none of the other ministers, MLAs or BJP karyakartas were present at the airport to welcome Parrikar back to Goa.
Parrikar later proceeded directly to his residence in Dona Paula.
