Goa: Maulanas recite Quran to invoke blessings for Parrikar

Maulanas from across Goa Thursday held a "Quran Khawani" here for the speedy recovery of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is admitted in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

Parrikar (62) is admitted at the old private ward under Dr Pramod Garg, professor of gastroenterology, and is under observation.

According to hospital sources, the Goa chief minister had undergone a series of tests at the premier health institute.

"We invited ten maulanas from different parts of Goa to the BJP state headquarters where they performed Quran Khawani for one hour and dua (pleading) for half an hour invoking Allah's blessings for Parrikar's recovery," Sheikh Jinah, president, BJPs State Minority Morcha told PTI.

Jinah said that Parrikar has helped the Muslim community in the state in various ways including aiding educational institutions and providing support to construct the Haj House.

He said that, recently, when Goa was falling short of the mandatory number of Haj pilgrims, Parrikar invited pilgrims from neighbouring Karnataka to fly from here.