PANJIM: Springing a New Year surprise, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer, visited his secretariat office after a gap of almost five months.
Not only did the chief minister hold meetings with BJP functionaries, ministers and bureaucrats, he is also scheduled to call for a Cabinet meeting next week.
Parrikar was in his office for about an hour wherein he met Speaker Pramod Sawant, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, Urban Development Minister Milind Naik, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, Sancoale MLA Alina Saldanha, GSIDC Vice Chairman Siddharth Kuncolienkar, former MLA Kiran Kandolkar and others.
Parrikar also met Personal Secretary to CM P Krishnamurthy and also officials of the Personnel Department. After meeting BJP MLAs, the chief minister also met councilors from Mapusa Municipal Council and of Corporation of City of Panaji.
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral said, “Today, CM Manohar Parrikar visited the Secretariat and called cabinet ministers for a meeting. He also signed files. He will soon hold a cabinet meeting next week wherein major decisions will be taken.”
Taking a dig at Congress, Cabral further said the CM’s visit to the Secretariat is a slap on Congress’ face.
“They were supposed to carry out shraddh (ritual perform on the death of a person), but this instance is their own shraddh,” Cabral stated.
Parrikar has been confined to his private residence in Dona Paula ever since he was discharged from All India Institute of Medical Studies, Delhi in October.
The CM did have Cabinet meetings as well as many important other works from his home even while continuing his treatment for cancer, his office has claimed.
