Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today choked to tears during a function to mark his 60th birthday.
“I had to wipe my eyes when I was hearing the speeches praising me. I became emotional (while) listening to the journey of (my) life narrated by my colleagues,” Parsekar said responding to the civic reception to felicitate him on his birthday at Taleigao village.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Union AYUSH Minister Sripad Naik and members of state cabinet were present on the occasion.
“During all these years, we went on working for the party.
We took each day as it comes and the journey was successful,” the Chief Minister said in his address.
Parsekar took small breaks during his address as he recalled the speech made by his colleagues including Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar and BJP state unit president Vinay Tendulkar.
In his address, Arlekar recalled how Parsekar had comforted him when he was bed-ridden for seven months after an accident.
Replying to this, the Chief Minister said, “Whatever I did I never found it extraordinary. But the way Arlekar narrated it, it brought tears in my eyes. I felt emotional.”
Parsekar said he keeps learning from people he meets.
“If there’s requirement to learn I will never leave the opportunity… I learnt from Parrikar (former CM) how to take bold and courageous decisions being a chief minister,” he added.