Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar — undergoing treatment for mild pancreatitis at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital — is unlikely to be present for the Budget Session that begins on Monday, and his government is likely to wrap up the proceedings earlier than scheduled, sources said on Sunday.
On Sunday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the hospital to call on his former Cabinet colleague. The PM spent 10 minutes at the hospital where Parrikar has been admitted since Friday.
According to doctors treating him, he has been kept under observation. Ajaykumar Pande, vice-president of Lilavati Hospital, said in a statement, “It has been brought to our notice, various malicious and misleading reports/rumours are floating around in the electronic/print media with regards to the health of Hon. Chief Minister of Goa. We categorically deny all such rumours. We reiterate that Hon. Chief Minister of Goa is being treated and is responding well to the treatment.”
Parikar was admitted to the hospital after he complained of stomachache. Before going to Lilavati, he underwent a check-up at the Goa Medical College on Wednesday.
A senior minister from the BJP-led coalition government in Goa said there were chances that the Assembly Session, which begins on Monday, may be curtailed on Thursday.
“Though the final decision will be made after the meeting of the business advisory committee, there are chances that a vote on account may be approved. The budgetary demands will be passed in the Monsoon Session. This seems to be the constitutional way out,” he said.
On Monday, Governor Mridula Sinha will address the Goa legislature. Deputy speaker Michael Lobo told PTI, “We will curtail the Session to three days, considering the ill health of the Chief Minister. The Budget would be tabled on February 20, instead of February 21, and the Vote on Account would be passed on the last day of the session — February 21.” Parrikar was earlier supposed to table the Budget on February 22. “The questions which were supposed to be discussed during the current session would be postponed for the next session,” Lobo said.
Parrikar’s aides asserted that the senior leader has recovered and would be discharged as and when doctors advise. A press statement issued by the state BJP said on Sunday that the CM has been advised to continue with “treatment for pancreas”.
Office of south Goa MP and BJP leader Narendra Savoikar issued a statement that on the advice of his doctors, Parrikar will continue with the treatment. “The CM’s treatment is in the right direction and he is responding to the same. However, he needs sufficient time to recover and be focused on the treatment. Expert doctors are taking good care of him. We all pray for his speedy recovery,” it said.
