Congress tried to grab power even as Manohar Parrikar was ailing: PM Modi

PANAJI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused the opposition Congress in Goa of scheming to gain power when the then chief minister Manohar Parrikar was fighting for his life.

Addressing a poll rally here, Modi paid tributes to the late leader, hailing his contribution as defense minister, especially during the surgical strike of September 2016.

Parrikar died on March 17 after a year-long illness.

"Congress tried to push Goa towards instability over Parrikar's health. When he was battling death, these people went to the Raj Bhavan, thinking this was their chance to grab power," Modi said.

During Parrikar's prolonged illness, the Congress had petitioned the governor staking claim to form the government.

"The kind of statements made by the Congress when Parrikar was ailing were not in keeping with the culture of Goa and of the country," he said.

Recalling his association with Goa, Modi recalled that he was chosen as prime ministerial candidate at the meeting of the BJP executive in the coastal state in 2014.

"I have come to you when the country's tallest leader and my friend Manohar Parrikar is not with us," he said.

The prime minister described Parrikar's contribution as defence minister as "unparallelled".

"The country carried out the surgical strike during his tenure. He laid the foundation for new India," Modi said, adding that the world realised after the surgical strike that India can kill terrorists "by entering their homes".

"I am proud that with Parrikar, we could give a new direction to the country's defence doctrine," the prime minister said.