Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Saturday that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is suffering from pancreatic cancer. The admission of the exact ailment from which Parrikar is suffering comes months after the state administration’s refusal to disclose details of the 62-year-old’s health condition.
Amid mounting pressure on the Goa government over Parrikar’s health by opposition parties, Rane revealed that the Goa CM is currently being nursed at home and there is “no hiding of the fact” that he is suffering from cancer.
Rane was answering questions at the inaugural of an emergency care centre at Aldona, North Goa. “He is the Chief Minister of Goa and the fact is, that he is not well. He has got pancreatic cancer. There is no hiding of this fact,” Rane said.
“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,” Rane told reporters in Panaji.
“But you know his present condition and he has been brought back from AIIMS and he is at home. 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,” Rane said reacting to the Congress’ four-day ultimatum to the BJP-led coalition government to prove that Parrikar was of “sound health and mind” and in a position to govern the state.
The Health Minister added that the CM’s absence has not obstructed administrative work.
“I have not found it. I have been inaugurating new projects and starting new projects… so let’s leave him. I have spoken to him even yesterday… so leave it,” he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Parrikar underwent treatment in hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and New Delhi. His failing health has reportedly forced the party and allies to look for an alternate CM. He returned from Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences on 14 October and has since not had a single public appearance.
But the CM will chair two official meetings at his private residence here next week. One of the two will be a cabinet meeting at his residence on 31 October. The cabinet meeting will come a day after he chairs a meeting of the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) at his residence on 30 October.