US, Russia condole Manohar Parrikar's demise

United States Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, on Monday condoled the demise of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

"Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go to the family and friends of Manohar Parrikar, Goa Chief Minister and former Indian Defence Minister. He was greatly respected by the United States, and his loss will be deeply felt," Juster tweeted.

Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev also expressed his deepest condolences to Parrikar's family.

"Your party and India have lost a charismatic leader, an eminent politician and a statesman of perfect integrity, whose role in political and social life was significant and inspiring. In his capacity as Defence Minister, he contributed greatly to the development of the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation between our two countries and will be remembered in Russia as a true friend," Kudashev wrote.

Russian Embassy in India tweeted, "#Russian Ambassador to #India H.E. Mr Nikolay #Kudashev expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Chief Minister of #Goa H.E. Mr Manohar #Parrikar, who passed away yesterday."

Senior BJP leader Parrikar, 63, breathed his last at his residence in Dona Paula near Panaji on Sunday evening.

A four-time Chief Minister of Goa and a former Defence Minister, Parrikar had been in and out of the hospitals since February last year. It was in October last year that the state government made a formal announcement about Parrikar suffering from a pancreatic ailment. He had undergone treatment in the United States as well as in New Delhi.

Parrikar took charge as the Chief Minister on March 14, 2017, and held the office till his end. He had previously served as the Chief Minister of the state from 2000 to 2002, 2002 to 2005 and from 2012 to 2014.

-ANI