Goa CM becomes emotional as House mourns Parrikar

Panaji, March 20 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant broke down while speaking on a motion passed in the Assembly on Wednesday to condole the death of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The motion to condole Parrikar's demise, which was moved by BJP MLA Rajesh Patnekar, also commiserated the deaths of former Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza and former Deputy Speaker Vishu Wagh.

"I am here only because of Manohar Parrikar. I became MLA, Speaker and CM because of him," an emotional Sawant said, as he took a pause several times while speaking.

Sawant's wife Sulakshana said on Tuesday that Parrikar was like a father figure to her as well as her husband.

Speaking on behalf of the BJP legislature party, Cabinet Minister Mauvin Godinho said that the late Chief Minister was a colossal and larger than life personality.

"Difficult to get another Manohar Parrikar in this state, who built a modern Goa and took the state forward in every aspect of governance. He is our pride and the state's tallest leader who served as Defence Minister and conducted the iconic surgical strikes," Godinho said.

Lone Nationalist Congress Party MLA Churchill Alemao said that cancer could happen to anyone, but added that "God extended his life for up to a year because Parrikar is a fighter".

Parrikar was diagnosed for pancreatic caner in February last year.

Alemao also said that if Parrikar had lived on, he would have legalised the popular sport of bull-fighting in Goa. Bull-fighting has been banned by a High Court order two decades ago.

Cabinet Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said that an upcoming bridge across the Zuari river would be named after the late Chief Minister.

"We have already sought permission from the central government," Dhavalikar told the Assembly.