New Delhi, Mar 17 In the times to come, the seasoned Goa politician Manohor Parrikar, but not a run of the mill type for reasons more than one, will be best remembered as an honest man and a brave man who fought the death till the last.
He would be also best remembered as a man who respected propriety in public life. Parrikar's last 'five minutes' meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi - unfortunately - ended up in a row and minor sense of bitterness.
Years back when he first made as a state legislator in Goa, profiles were written saying he was the 'first IIT alumnus to serve as an MLA of any Indian state'. Years later, he became Defence Minister of the Modi government and nor many are sure how many IIT pass outs have actually made it to the coveted position in the South Block either. In the words of President Ram Nath Kovind and so aptly put - Late Parrikar was an "epitome of integrity and dedication" in public life and truly his service to the people of Goa and of India "will not be forgotten".
The 63 year old Parrikar, suffering from a pancreatic ailment. Amid the deteriorating health conditions made Congress staked claim to form government in the state while the state BJP hinted in the Sunday afternoon that the saffron party leadership and the MLAs were thinking of a political transit phase.
He would be also remembered as a BJP leader from Goa - who was not only a trusted aide and Man Friday for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Late Parrikar was the Goa BJP legislators 'only choice' in 2017 when the party decided to form a new government after a fiercely fought assembly elections that had thrown up a hung assembly.
"I will miss my Goan fish," Mr Parrikar had said when he moved to Delhi to join the Modi cabinet.
His detractors often mocked the manner he walked 'as a Defence Minister' betraying his middle class
mannerism, but he generally sought to look the other way and focused on work.
The much talked about One Rank One Pension for the armed forces came up during his time and was cleared by the government as well.
However, in terms of Goa politics, Parrikar's ascendancy to the coveted office and running the state of affairs in tiny Goa state - known for defection - was not an easy cakewalk.
In 2004-05, during his stint as Chief Minister, there was often 'defection' from the Congress bench to the ruling side and after Monmohan Singh took charge and veteran Naga politician S C Jamir became the Governor, the Parrikar ministry was dismissed on February 2, 2005 in a highly controversial development.
A cool and generally a calm man, Parrikar also ventilated his anguish later saying the Governor (Jamir) was still behaving as the 'Nagaland Chief Minister' and said the decision to dismiss his government after he 'won' the trial of strength was pre-meditated. In fact, some Congress members had gone to the Governor in the afternoon before the trial of strength in the House.
But when Parrikar moved into the cabinet as Defence Minister, BJP sources said, never did he raise the issue of Jamir's conduct in Goa either in cabinet or with other central leaders Home Minister Rajnath Singh or Prime Minister Modi even as the Naga old warhorse continued as Odisha Governor and was allowed to complete his term.
Despite his failing health, Parrikar met Congress president Rahul Gandhi recently despite the Rafale controversy in the air.
The BJP leaders later said, Parrikar was advised to avoid meeting particularly a high profile leader of the principal opposition, however, he - known for respecting institutions and propriety agreed to meet.
However, when Mr Gandhi raked up Rafale at a later stage and also mentioned that it figured in their brief meeting, Mr Parrikar hit out at the Congress President saying he felt "let down" as the latter misused the five minutes that Rahul Gandhi spent with him.
"I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the five minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it," the ailing Chief Minister had written in his two-page letter to Mr Gandhi on January 30.
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