Team Herald
CUNCOLIM: Former MP and senior Congress leader Shantaram Naik was cremated on Sunday afternoon at Culwada crematorium. He died on Saturday morning due to massive heart attack. The funeral pyre was lit by the departed leader’s son Archit Naik.
Prior to the funeral, the mortal remains of the late Congress leader were brought to his birth place in Cuncolim from his residence at Gogol in Margao. Political leaders cutting across party lines, various personalities from different fields, his relatives and Cuncolkars in large numbers paid their last tribute to the departed leader.
The funeral was attended by senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Pratapsigh Rane, Congress AICC General Secretary Challa Kumar, senior Congress MLA from Ponda Ravi Naik, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, MLAs Alex Reginaldo Lourenco, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Clefacio Dias, Glen Ticklo, Nilkant Halarnkar, Dayanand Sopte, Central Government Special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, NCP leader Jose Philip D’Souza, Nirmala Sawant, Sangita Parab, Girish Chodankar, Anil Hoble, Maratha Samaj president Mahesh Gaonkar, Pratima Coutinho, social activist Aires Rodrigues, Anacleto Veiges, Clefacio Almeida and many others.
In his tribute, Special Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said that Shantaram gave his heart and soul to his party; as a loyal soldier of Congress, he never expected anything from party. “For him, the Party’s order was like a Word of God. I personally lost a good friend and Goa lost an honest politician,” he said.
Former chief minister Pratapsigh Rane, in his tribute, appealed to the Congressmen to follow path shown by Naik, which he said, would be the true tribute to the late leader.
AICC general Secretary Challa kumar said that Shantaram was a true, clean and disciplined politician. “His contribution to the Congress party will always be remembered. He is a politician who never involved in any controversy. Even the opposition parties did not dare to charge him on any front,” he said.
Opposition leader Chandrakant Kavlekar said that he and his party have lost a great mentor and a guide. As a party president and as MP in both Houses of Parliament, Naik had played a great role and proved a clean politician. Konkani Author Pundalik Naik, freedom fighter Nagesh Karmali and Konkani Bhasha Mandal President Chetan Acharya highlighted Naik’s contribution in getting the Eighth Schedule status to Konkani Language and also for his contribution to get statehood for Goa.
Meanwhile, the Cuncolim Chieftains memorial trust, Cuncolim Educational Society, AVC Cultural Association and several other organisations and individuals have condoled the sad demise of Shantaram.
“We have lost a brave son of the soil. He was the backbone of Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial Trust. He always fought for truth. Shantaram Naik’s dream was to see Cuncolim revolt to become a part of the school books. He raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha. He was very happy when news came from Goa Board that Cuncolim revolt will be included in History books. We have lost a great personality and honest politician,” said Oscar Martin Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial Trust.
Vice Chairperson of Cuncolim Municipal Council Shashank Desai also expressed his sorrow and condolences. “Naik had shown an example of honest politics. He always remained loyal to his party. His love towards Cuncolim, Goa and for Konkani was immeasurable. Today’s generation must learn politics from this great personality,” he said.
