Manohar Parrikar cremated with state honours, gun salute

Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar was cremated with state honours in Panaji on Monday, with thousands bidding the affable politician a fond farewell.

BJP president Amit Shah, some Union ministers and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states attended the funeral at Miramar.

The funeral procession started from the Kala Academy where thousands, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid their last respects to the former defence minister. Modi later tweeted saying Parrikar personified humility, simplicity and compassion.  

Thousands of supporters and BJP workers accompanied the funeral cortege from the Kala Academy Arts and Cultural Centre, where the remains had been kept throughout the day for the public to pay last respects to the nearby Miramar beach.

 Watch: Remembering Manohar Parrikar and the void he leaves behind in Goa and India

The mortal remains of Parrikar, wrapped in the national tri-colour, were placed on a pyre amid gun salutes at the beach. His elder son Utpal Parrikar lit the pyre.

The affection and popularity Parrikar enjoyed among ordinary Goans was on display as hundreds of common folks, and his party workers lined up to pay tributes to the chief minister, who died on Sunday after year-long battle with cancer. He was 63.