PANAJI: Late deputy chief minister Francis D’ Souza will be laid to rest with full state honours as the Manohar Parrikar-led government has decided to accord the senior state BJP functionary a state funeral . Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao will be the main celebrant at the Eucharistic celebration scheduled at 4pm in St Jerome’s Church, Mapusa.Inspector general of police Jaspal Singh told TOI that the government has declared a state funeral for D’ Souza, during which his remains will be draped in the tricolour. D’Souza will also be given a 21-gun salute . “He will be given a guard of honour,” Singh said.A state funeral is a public ceremony observing strict rules of protocol, which is held to honour people of national significance.The police spent the better part of Friday visiting Mapusa to make traffic arrangments for the funeral. Police said that three places have been identified for parking, including at pick-up stand and Asilo hospital.The first Catholic to be elected on a BJP ticket, D’Souza passed away after a prolonged illness on Thursday afternoon at 64. Elected for five terms from Mapusa, he was suffering from cancer for the last few months. He was admitted to a hospital in Old Goa over two weeks ago after his condition deteriorated. D’Souza’s health worsened after the February 2017 assembly polls when he was detected with a heart ailment.

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