Parrikar worked for people till his last breath: Sumitra Mahajan

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Monday paid tributes to late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar saying he was a highly capable and energetic man who worked till his last breath.

She told ANI, "Manohar Parikkar was a very dedicated man. It is very difficult to find a person as dedicated as him. He was highly capable and energetic. He lived a very simple life despite holding various positions and being learned. His only aim was to serve the people. He worked till his last breath."

Remembering Parrikar's tenure in Lok Sabha she added, "In the Lok Sabha his replies would be such that all including the opposition would be satisfied. He had a good sense of humour. I have never seen him sad and hopeless."

Talking about his term as the Defence Minister, Mahajan said, "He was a good Defence Minister as he understood technology very well and was very patriotic."

Parrikar died on Sunday evening after a prolonged battle against cancer at the age of 63. Parrikar breathed his last at his residence in Panaji, Goa.

The Centre has already announced National Mourning on March 18.

A four-time Chief Minister of Goa, Parrikar had been in and out of the hospitals since February last year. It was in October last year that the state government made a formal announcement about the BJP leader suffering from a pancreatic ailment. He had undergone treatment in the United States as well as in New Delhi.

Parrikar took charge as the Chief Minister on March 14, 2017, and held the office till his end. He had previously served as the Chief Minister of the state from 2000 to 2002, 2002 to 2005 and from 2012 to 2014.