Ailing Goa CM Manohar Parrikar Makes Rare Public Appearance, Inspects Two Bridges

Panaji: Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday inspected an under-construction bridge on Mandovi River here, the first time he has been seen in public since returning to the state on October 14 post hospitalisation in Delhi's AIIMS.

He later inspected the work of a bridge over Zuari River near Agassaim village, some 15 kilometres from here.

Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, has been recuperating at his private residence near here since October 14 and this is the first time he has moved out of the house, officials said.

A senior Chief Minister's Office functionary on Sunday said Parrikar travelled from Porvorim to Merces inspecting the bridge, the third over the Mandovi.

The bridge, which is expected to be completed next year, will connect Panaji to the rest of north Goa.

Parrikar alighted from the car at the site and discussed the progress of the work with officials of the Goa Infrastructure Development Corporation and contracting firm Larsen and Toubro, the CMO functionary said.

The opposition Congress has been alleging that Parrikar's ailment and his absence from office had brought the coastal state's administration to a standstill.

However, visibly ill Parrikar caught the attention of leaders across the political spectrum. Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter and said: "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?"