Panaji: Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s birthday this time will be unique as the figurines of the Bofors gun and Arjuna tank will adorn the birthday cake which will be cut on Tuesday.
BJP MLA Michael Lobo was quoted as saying by IANS that the celebrations in Parrikar’s ancestral village would be grand this time.
“We have ordered a cake for him which is related to defence. Arjuna tanks, Bofors guns and all those things will be part of the cake,” Lobo told the media here.
This would be Goa’s way of saying thank you to the country’s defence minister for giving a go-ahead to the armed forces for conducting the surgical strikes on the intervening nights of September 28-29 during which several terror launch pads along the Line of Control in PoK were completely destroyed.
Elaborating details of the celebration, Lobo said the function will be held in Parra village, part of Calangute constituency, and clubbed with a ”Vijay Sankalp” rally, part of a series of poll rallies organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in 39 out of 40 constituencies of the state, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
“This cake is to showcase (to) the people of India that Manohar-ji has successfully carried out the surgical strikes. This is the love from the people of Goa, from the people of his own village, from the people of Calangute constituency to showcase how important he is and how important his decisions are,” Lobo, a legislator from Calangute, said.
“This birthday is going to be a remarkable one for him. For the first time in his whole life, he is celebrating (it) in his own constituency. The people are also waiting to see, waiting to hear him… his experience.
“All of a sudden he goes to Kashmir, to Andaman and Nicobar islands. He goes to Karwar, he is travelling all over India and other parts of the world to strengthen our defence force,” Lobo said.
The leader said the cake was a surprise for Parrikar, who is know for keeping a low profile.
IANS