From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Goa, Dec 10: The Congress party in Goa has petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking his intervention from stopping union defence minister Manohar Parrikar to celebrate his birthday on December 13 in the wake of recent Chennai floods.

Parrikar will be celebrating his 60th birthday for which a grand reception has been planned which would be attended by several Modi government ministers.

“We request you to kindly intervene and direct Manohar Parrikar and Goa State BJP leaders to reconsider their decision of the birthday celebration on December 13, as Manohar Parrikar is the Raksha Mantri of the Country and no more is the Chief Minister or the MLA of a State legislature. His responsibility is towards the entire country and not just the State anymore,” a petition submitted by Congress Goa general secretary Sunil Kawthankar reads.

“If Manohar Parrikar accepts this grand celebration at a time when hundreds are mourning deaths of their loved ones in Chennai, it will only reflect on your governance of our country,” he added.

Kawthankar informed Prime Minister that Congress had requested BJP not to go ahead with the celebration and instead of spending crores of rupees on felicitating Parrikar, the same could be donated towards Chennai relief fund.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar this week had refused to cancel the birthday celebrations stating the state government had not funded the event.