On Sunday, all roads will lead to Panaji, where over 50,000 guests will wish ‘Happy Birthday’ to Goa’s tallest politician, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who turns 60 on December 13.
Parrikar, former Goa Chief Minister, will be formally felicitated by thousands of fans and party workers at the felicitation function in the State capital, where Union Cabinet Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari will also be present.
State BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said that the public celebration of Parrikar’s birthday, which has been criticised by the Congress party, will be a simple ceremony devoid of grandeur.
“It will be a simple ceremony and not a grand one... About the expense we will tell you when we have another press conference… There is no target for collection of money (for the birthday celebration),” Tendulkar said.
The State president also said that over 900 buses had been requisitioned by party workers from all over the State to ferry passengers to the celebration.
The public felicitation however has riled the local Opposition.
The Congress over the last one week has been demanding that the public felicitation of Parrikar, a former Goa chief minister and the BJP’s tallest leader in Goa, on his birthday should be scrapped in view of the escalating tension along the line of Control and in view of the Chennai tragedy which has claimed more than 250 lives.
Tendulkar however denied the allegations made by the Opposition.