Days after Congress’ morbid hatred where Congress spokesperson asked BJP to either ‘show Parrikar in person or conduct Shradhh (death ceremony)’, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has disclosed that Parrikar has been suffering from pancreatic cancer.
The statement by the health minister came amid persistent demands from the opposition parties to know whether the Chief Minister was fit enough to govern. The state government had hitherto been eluding relentless queries on Parrikar’s ailment.
Congress spokesperson on Friday had given a four-day ultimatum to the Goa state government to prove that Parrikar was of “sound health and mind” and in a position to govern the state. Responding to the warning, Rene told the media here, “He is the CM of Goa and the fact is that he is not well. He has got pancreatic cancer. There is no hiding of this fact.” He furthered, “Let him be peaceful with his family. That much right he has, after serving the people of Goa, that if he wants to spend some quality time with his family, nobody has the business to ask.”
Parrikar was first diagnosed with the pancreatic ailment in mid-February and since then been admitted several times to hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York, and Delhi. Earlier when the cause of his deteriorating health was not disclosed there were speculations that Parrikar will soon resign from the post of CM, pushing the state into early polls.
Earlier, government dodging all queries, maintained that Parrikar all this while has been admitted to the hospitals for treatment of pancreatic infection.
Rene, irked with Congress politicising the CM ailment lambasted saying, “If Deshprabhu wants to go to the court, then he is free to do so. He is infested with foolishness, but I am not. Congress doesn’t have any issue to take up and as such, they are after Parrikar’s life.
Parrikar has not had a single public appearance since his return from Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences on October 14 and is currently ailing at his private residence, which party sources said has been converted into a sophisticated medical facility, with doctors and para-medical staff on 24-hour duty. His absence has created a leadership vacuum in the state.
