Both Hindus and Catholics appear to have chosen the prayer route for the well-being of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who since February 15 has been admitted to a Mumbai Hospital suffering from an ailing pancreas.
After Parrikar did not turn up at the ongoing Budget session of the Goa legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the second day of the session, the Goa Church also urged the hundreds and thousands of Roman Catholics to pray for the good health of the ailing Parrikar.
“Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, sharing the genuine concern of the population of this State, prays for the fast recovery of our ailing Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar and appeals to the Catholic community to raise fervent prayers for the good health of the head of the Government in this State,” the statement issued by the Goa Church said.
Roman Catholics account for nearly 26 per cent of the State’s population of 1.5 million.
At a Hanuman temple in Sattari sub district, located on the north-eastern end of the State, a special prayer ‘Mahamrityunjay jap’ is also being offered for the good health of the Chief Minister, who was admitted to Mumbai’s lilavati Hospital on February 15, after he complained of stomach upset.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an official visit to Mumbai on Sunday also met Parrikar at the Hospital and enquired about his well being in company of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari.
While clear details about his illness and latest updates are unclear, on Sunday, a statement by the Chief Minister’s Office has denied that the Former Defence Minister has undergone any surgery.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Tuesday said that it will demand a proper update on the Chief Minister’s health during the ongoing Budget session of the State Assembly.
“We are all concerned for his health. He is also an elected representative and a Chief Minister of the state. The people deserve to know exactly what he is suffering from and his latest health condition,” leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar told The Pioneer.