INDIA'S former defence minister and serving chief minister of the western state of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, passed away yesterday (17).
Parrikar, a four-time chief minister, died at his private residence Sunday (17) evening after battling the pancreatic cancer since February 2018.
A technocrat turned politician, 63-year-old Parrikar was a senior member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
A close aide of prime minister Narendra Modi breathed his last at his residence in Goa.
"India will be eternally grateful to Shri Manohar Parrikar for his tenure as our Defence Minister ... India witnessed a series of decisions that enhanced India's security capacities, boosted indigenous defence production and bettered the lives of ex-servicemen," prime minister Modi tweeted.
The government announced a day of mourning on Monday (18) and called for the national flag to be flown at half-mast.
The last rites of the deceased are scheduled to be held at 5 pm IST today (18) at the Miramar beach in Panaji, next to the memorial of Goa's first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar, who was also cremated there.
A protestor is detained by the police during a demonstration against the proposed site of the new Chinese Embassy, outside Royal Mint Court, in London. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso. 
