Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar died after a long illness on Sunday evening at the age of 63. Parrikar, a former Defence Minister who had been battling pancreatic cancer for over a year, died at his private residence near Panaji.

President of India, Ram Nath Kovind offered his condolences by tweeting, "Extremely sorry to hear of the passing of Shri Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister of Goa, after an illness borne with fortitude and dignity. An epitome of integrity and dedication in public life, his service to the people of Goa and of India will not be forgotten."

Several other personalities also took to Twitter expressing their grief. Indian freestyle wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt wrote, “Shri Manohar Parrikar was a man with honesty and devotion to Indian politics. His demise is an irreparable loss. He lived a life full of simplicity, and till his last breath he continued his work as a Chief Minister with full dedication”.

भारतीय राजनीति में ईमानदारी और कर्तव्यनिष्ठा की प्रतिमूर्ति श्री मनोहर पर्रिकर जी का निधन अपूरणीय क्षति है। अत्यंत सादगी से भरा जीवन उन्होंने जिया और अंतिम लम्हों में भी वे मुख्यमंत्री की अपनी जिम्मदारियां निभाते रहे। ऐसी महान आत्मा को शत शत नमन  pic.twitter.com/GOiy2gPnsN

— Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) March 17, 2019

Other sports personalities also expressed their grief on Manohar Parrikar's sad demise:

A True Leader Of Country, Honest, Dedicated, True Nationalist #ManoharParrikar ji death is the Major Loss to India, He Was a One Of the Dedicated Leader in History Of INDIA  R.I.P  #ManoharParrikar

— geeta phogat (@geeta_phogat) March 17, 2019

Deeply saddened to hear the demise of Sh. Manohar Parrikar Ji. May your soul rest in peace  pic.twitter.com/IBHZB1UOom

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) March 17, 2019

pic.twitter.com/cYdmzZC8Hw

— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) March 17, 2019

Extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Shri #ManoharParrikar Man with an undying spirit.#RestInPeace pic.twitter.com/8nkX2AvKve

— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) March 17, 2019

सादगी का दूसरा नाम @manoharparrikar जी थे।मनोहर पर्रिकर जी इतिहास में अपनी छाप छोड़ कर गये हैं ।वो साधारण तरीके से रहते थे,काम करने में यकीन रखते थे, वो बहुत ही सरल इंसान थे। भगवान उनकी आत्मा को शांति दे ।#ManoharParrikar pic.twitter.com/tzJ8K0DE05

— Babita Phogat (@BabitaPhogat) March 17, 2019

Heartfelt comdolences on the demise of #ManoharParrikar ji. My thoughts with his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/99FaaMn2QL

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 17, 2019

Manohar Parrikar's three-year term as the Defence Minister saw the Army conducting the surgical strike in September 2016, after a terror attack claimed lives of 19 soldiers in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir

Parrikar ensured that the long-pending Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is inducted in the Indian Air Force's fleet. He also took steps to ease the process of indgenisation in the defence sector

RIP Manohar Parrikar!