Parrikar's last rites in Panaji on Monday evening

The mortal remains of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who died on Sunday following a protracted battle will cancer, will be cremated here on Monday evening, an official statement said.

The mortal remains will be kept at the Bharatiya Janata Party state headquarters here, as well as at a state government-operated arts and culture centre all through the morning and afternoon, for public to pay their final respects, before being taken to the Miramar beach for cremation at 5 p.m., according to the statement from the Chief Minister's Office.

The Union Home Ministry has announced national mourning on Monday and a state funeral will be accorded to Parrikar.

Top BJP leaders from across the country, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah are expected to be present during the last rites ceremony, party sources said.

The former Defence Minister, one of the tallest state BJP leaders in Goa, was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in February last year and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and New York since then.

--IANS

maya/vd