LIVE Updates | Manohar Parrikar's Last Rites Being Performed at Miramar Beach, Sea of Supporters Bid Farewell

Manohar Parrikar’s last rites have began in Goa’s Miramar. Parrikar has been given a gun salute a short while back.

BJP president Amit Shah, chief ministers of several BJP-ruled states have reached at Miramar as last rites begin on late Goa chief minister Manohar Parikkar.

Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari says that the party has decided Goa legislature wing leader but the issue is only regarding allies. Gadkari added that talks are on with alliance partners and he is in Goa till 6pm.

As the vehicle carrying late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s body travelled 5 km from his private residence in Dona Paula to Panaji in the morning, people tried to catch a glimpse of the leader, who rose from the small coastal state to become the country's defence minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Parrikar at the Kala Academy and met his family members and offered his condolences to them. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman also met Parrikar's family members.

Late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar's mortal remains have reached Miramar beach. Last rites currently taking place in presence of family, top leaders and thousands of followers. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted saying that he paid his tributes to his ‘friend’ Manohar Parrikar, chief minister of Goa, in Panaji on Monday, who died on Sunday evening. “He personified humility, simplicity and compassion. The good work he has done will be remembered for years to come,” Modi tweeted on Parrikar.

Late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar's funeral procession from Kala Academy to Miramar has started; last rites shortly.

The final journey of late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has started towards Miramar beach. Thousands walk behind the coffin carrying the mortal remains of the departed leader. Parrikar would be accorded a state funeral with full military honours this evening, according to the home ministry. The central government has announced a day's national mourning today, during which all schools and colleges in Goa were shut.

BJP president Amit Shah has arrived in Goa to be part of late leader Manohar Parrikar's final journey. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also landed in Goa and paid last respects to Parrikar. 

An artist from Uttar Pradesh's Amroha district pays tributes to late Manohar Parrikar by drawing a charcoal portrait of him. Parikkar died on Sunday evening after battling pancreatic cancer for two years. 

An artist from Amroha, Mohammad Zuhaib, pays his last respects to late Goa Chief Minister #ManoharParrikar by making a charcoal portrait. pic.twitter.com/QsZUuB8wYZ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 18, 2019

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pays her last respects to departed Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar in Panaji on Monday.

Tejaswini said that now her only regret is that she could not thank Parrikar enough for his financial help which made a big contribution in her life and shooting career.

An interesting fact about the late Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar:

Union Minister Smriti Irani gets emotional as she visits Manohar Parrikar's family at Kala Academy, where the late Goa chief minister's mortal remains lie.

Panaji: Union Minister Smriti Irani gets emotional as she pays last respects to Goa CM #ManoharParrikar. pic.twitter.com/NOOucOU8iO

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019

Haryana Declares 1-day State Mourning for Parrikar's Demise | The Haryana government declared a one-day state mourning on Monday as a mark of respect to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who died of pancreatic cancer on Sunday. "The State government has decided to observe a one-day state mourning as a mark of respect to the departed dignitary. The national flag will fly at half-mast on March 18," an order issued by Haryana Chief Secretary's office said.

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari pays homage to former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who passed away battling pancreatic ailment on Saundy, in Panaji.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, flanked by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, speaks to late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's family at Kala Academy

PM Modi Arrives in Panaji to Pay Last Respect to Parrikar | Prime Minister Narendra Modi has aarrived at Kala Acedemy in Panaji to pay his homage to the late Goa CM. The mortal remains Manohar Parrikar have been brought at the Academy from the BJP headquarter. 

An interesting fact about the late Goa chief minister, Manohar Parrikar.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party leaders observe two-minute silence at party's public rally in Karnataka's Kalaburagi, to pay last respects to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar's Fans Line up Streets, Party Office to Pay Tributes | The affection and popularity he enjoyed from ordinary Goans was on display as hundreds of common folks, and his party workers lined up to pay tributes to Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who died Sunday after prolonged illness. Parrikar, 63, will be accorded state funeral with full military honours at Miramar on Monday, an official said. People gathered at the BJP office in Panaji to pay last respects to the late leader.

Leader of Opposition in Goa, Chandrakant Kavlekar said, "We met the Governor and staked claim to form government as we are the single largest party in the state. We have 14 MLAs and we should be given the chance to form the government. We have told that we will prove majority."

Congress delegation meets Governor of Goa, Mridula Sinha in Panaji

Parrikar and Gokhale shared a relationship which went beyond the personal and professional domain. For Gokhale, Parrikar was not only his defence minister.

Dhavalikar said, "The MGP would hold its executive committee meeting later in the day to decide whether to continue its support to the BJP-led government or not." Responding to a question, he said there was no discussion with Gadkari on the chief ministerial candidate. The MGP leader also said he was not in the race for the top post.

MGP's Support to Goa Govt Uncertain | The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), an ally of the ruling BJP in Goa, on Monday said its executive committee would take a call on whether to continue support to the state government. MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar met Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari in Panaji to discuss the political situation in the state following the death of chief minister Manohar Parrikar. 

Hectic political activities are on in the coastal state to select the new chief minister after the death of chief minister Manohar Parrikar Sunday. "The decision on chief ministerial candidate is yet to be taken. But the picture will be clear by 2 pm," Tendulkar said, adding that the new chief minister would be sworn in after 3 pm Monday.

New CM to be Sworn in Monday | Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar has now said that there would be clarity on who would be the state's new chief minister soon on Monday. Tendulkar said this after meeting Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari over the issue.

Parrikar and Gokhale shared a relationship which went beyond the personal and professional domain. For Gokhale, Parrikar was not only his defence minister.

All Congress MLAs in Goa to Meet Governor | All 14 Congress MLAs in Goa were on the way to Raj Bhawan on Monday to meet Governor Mridula Sinha to stake claim to form government in the state following the demise of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) met in Panaji on Monday morning. Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said the party MLAs decided to walk to the Raj Bhawan uninvited, after the governor refused to give them an appointment.