PANAJI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent time with the bereaved family members of former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar and surprised nobody with his easy familiarity at Kala Academy in the city.Parrikar breathed his last on Saturday after losing a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer and the Prime Minister arrived here to offer his final prayers to the mortal remains of his former cabinet colleague and one of his close associates.It was in Goa that Parrikar became the first BJP chief minister to throw his weight behind Modi as a prime ministerial candidate in the run-up to the 2014 parliamentary polls. Modi, on the other hand, later handpicked Parrikar as his defence minister.Arriving at 2.25pm at the venue where the former defence minister’s body was kept, Modi spent around seven minutes with Parrikar’s family. He entered the venue with Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman close behind. Modi then placed a floral wreath on the mortal remains and walked up to Parrikar’s sons Utpal and Abhijat, their respective wives, and Parrikar’s elder brother Avdhut, sitting nearby.Modi told the sons to be strong and find the strength to overcome the loss. He also told them that only because of the resilient person that Parrikar was, was he was able to deal with the struggles that came with his prolonged illness.Parrikar’s sons appeared reassured by the PM’s words as they were seen exchanging smiles briefly.The PM, who was escorted by Union Ayush minister Shripad Naik and South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, stood beside Parrikar’s bereaved family members, saying a quiet prayer to himself.While Modi prayed, Sitharaman walked to Parrikar’s sisters, Lata Sankhwalkar and Jyoti Kotnis, standing close by. As Sitharaman offered her condolences, Lata, who was crying inconsolably since the news of his passing, broke down again.Subsequently, Modi too walked to Parrikar’s sisters and spent around a minute speaking to them.While BJP national president Amit Shah stayed back for the last rites that took place at 5.40pm on Monday, the PM had to fly out of the state soon after offering his respects at Kala Academy.

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