On Sunday, ailing Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, who has been suffering from pancreatic cancer for a long time, made a rare public appearance, with a tube inserted in his nose. According to media reports, he had to be supported while walking. This was for the first time that Parrikar made a public appearance since he returned from Delhi on October 14. He went out to inspect the ongoing construction of Zuari Bridge in Panjim and a half-constructed bridge on Mandovi River.
Chief Minister @manoharparrikar visited the construction site of 3rd Mandovi Bridge & inspected the progress of work. Officials of GSIDC and L&T engineers were present on the site to brief the Chief Minister. CM Parrikar later also inspected the ongoing works of new Zuari Bridge. pic.twitter.com/dUwe34Og9W
— CMO Goa (@goacm) December 16, 2018
The Times of India has quoted his personal secretary Rupesh Kamat saying, “The chief minister stopped the car four times and even got down twice to see the view from the top of the bridge. The chief minister asked the contractors to complete the bridge by January 12.”
Manohar Parrikar began inspection of the bridge at around 3.30 pm. He was accompanied by his son Utpal, three doctors and his personal secretary Rupesh Kamat.
Meanwhile, pictures of the frail-looking Parrikar attracted both appreciation and criticism. The supporters of the BJP hailed commitment and dedication of Manohar Parrikar for his state. Some people also called him a hero.
We need such heroes in our country.
— Mukesh Kumar (@MukeshK28361274) December 17, 2018
Some people called him an inspiration for others.
Do not go gently into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
I sincerely pray that @manoharparrikar recovers. N at the same time those who r aiming for potshots, shame on you all. @goacm @manoharparrikar Kudos. You are an inspiration https://t.co/s4W6iWcVYc— Bivash (@BvashR) December 16, 2018
https://t.co/VPrD2VUMbv
This is inspirational dedication. @manoharparrikar sir wow. #MondayMotivation— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) December 17, 2018
This is what separates politicians and true visionary leaders. Even health doesn't deter @manoharparrikar from inspecting infrastructure work in the state including Mandovi Bridge ! Hats off Bhai ! pic.twitter.com/0ULtfikMOz
— Giriraj Pai Vernekar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@girirajpai) December 16, 2018
On the other hand, BJP critics, including the Congress and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah lambasted the BJP for allowing an ailing CM to continue working. Former CM of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said, “How inhuman to force him to continue working and doing photo-ops.” He also labeled Manohar Parrikar’s hard work and dedication as ‘Tamasha’. He said, “Why can’t he be allowed to deal with his illness without all this pressure and tamasha?” Omar Abdullah found these pictures as Tamasha because he is not used to such hard work and dedication as he is one of the dynast politicians.
He has a tube inserted through his nose into his digestive tract. How inhuman to force him to continue working & doing photo ops. Why can’t he be allowed to deal with his illness without all this pressure & tamasha? https://t.co/iq0dwXCHmE
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 16, 2018
Yashwant Deshmukh very politely expressed his disagreement with Omar Abdullah’s point of view and said that photos of Manohar Parrikar inspecting the development projects inspires everyone and sends a very strong message that one must live his/her life according to his/her wish, till the very last. He also asked a strong and question, “Why should any cancer patient be asked to just give up, accept his/her fate and wait for painful death on the bed?”
Completely disagree @OmarAbdullah . If anything, these photos can only inspire all of us that you must live your life just the way you wish to, till the very last. Why should any cancer patient be asked to just give up, accept his/her fate and wait for painful death on the bed? https://t.co/fabA3zgrfp
— Yashwant Deshmukh 🇮🇳 (@YRDeshmukh) December 17, 2018
The BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also took dig at Omar Abdullah for his insensitive remarks. He said, “How inhuman to do politics over someone’s illness. This picture speaks a thousand words, it conveys the strong commitment of Manohar Parrikar ji for our country.” He also said, “Feeling of serving the people comes from within but netas like you who eulogize Burhan Wanis will not understand.”
How inhuman to do politics over someone's illness This picture speaks a thousand words, it conveys the strong commitment of Shri @manoharparrikar ji for our country
Feeling of serving the people comes from within but netas like you who eulogize Burhan Wanis will not understand https://t.co/cjoiSCWyUx
— Gaurav Bhatia गौरव भाटिया 🇮🇳 (Modi Ka Parivar) (@gauravbhatiabjp) December 17, 2018
The Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi used the occasion to target the BJP.
Is that a tube that is inserted in his nose? Can a party be so power hungry to make a man work despite his illness? With BJP impossible is nothing….to grab power, latch on to power.
Take care CM Saab, because clearly, your party won’t. https://t.co/xBwv5qXvtb— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) December 16, 2018
A cancer survivor strongly answered Priyanka Chaturvedi and also asked her to apologize for insulting cancer survivors’ fighting spirits.
You insult cancer survivors' fighting spirits.@manoharparrikar has inspired me too.
Nasogastric tube in elementary canal doesn't mean one's to be tied to a bed, gasping. I had worked with it for months. Didn't you see @IromSharmila wearing this for years?
You must Say sorry! pic.twitter.com/mueqboouqr— Raghunath AS (Modi Kutumbi)🇮🇳 (@asraghunath) December 16, 2018
Not just the Congress leaders, but the entire Congress ecosystem used the opportunity to attack the BJP. It only goes on to show that they don’t care about Manohar Parrikar’s health; the only thing that matters to them is peddling of their nefarious agenda against the BJP, and to grab the political power.
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar termed that Parikkar’s visit is a stage-managed photo op. He also said, “Why were the media not taken on the visit? It is in bad taste. The coterie around him are just exhibiting a sick person to prove he is still active and thus cling to power. The ground reality is totally different. They really have no morality left.”
Girish Chodankar statement is nauseating, to say the least. Earlier, the Congress alleged that “Parrikar’s assistants are running the government.” Girish Chodankar also said, “The Congress in Goa has been demanding a full-time Chief Minister for the last several months. We have met the Governor (Mridula Sinha) on six occasions. The Congress also organised a ‘Century Without CM’ campaign to protest the 100-day absence of Manohar Parrikar.” The Congress party is demanding the resignation of CM Parrikar from a very long time on the ground of his illness.
For more details: Desperate Congress stoops to another low, spreads vicious rumours about Manohar Parrikar
For more details: Manohar Parrikar is back, Congress goes in utter silence