Manohar Parrikar to be given state funeral today

New Delhi, Mar 18: Manohar Parrikar, four-time Goa Chief Minister and former defence minister passed away on Sunday evening after battling pancreatic cancer for over a year.

The Centre announced a national mourning on Monday, declaring that the National Flag would fly half-mast across the country. Hours after the Goa Chief Minister's office tweeted confirming Parrikar's death, a program plan for his final journey was tweeted.

Goa had announced a seven-day mourning after the chief minister's death. All schools and educational institutions in the state will be shut on Monday and all examinations have been postponed.

According to the Goa CMO, Parrikar's body will be kept at the Panjim BJP head office from 9.30 am to 10.30 am after which his body will be taken to Kala Academy in Panaji for public to pay their final respects to the chief minister.

His body will be kept for public viewing until 4 pm after which the funeral procession to Miramar area in the capital will be held. The last rites will be performed at around 5 pm at SAG grounds in Campal, approximately 4km from Panaji.

The 63-year-old was seen in public outings over the past few months with a nasal tube and a frail form, which provoked opposition attacks on the ruling BJP. But in January this year, he had famously said that he "will serve Goa till my last breath."