Manohar Parrikar condoles death of former Goa CM Wilfred De Souza Panaji

Manohar Parrikar today condoled the demise of former Goa Chief Minister Wilfred De Souza

Panaji, Sep 4:  Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today condoled the demise of former Goa Chief Minister Wilfred De Souza who passed away here this morning.
In his message, Parrikar said, “It was with sadness that I learnt of the passing of Dr Wilfred De Souza, the former Chief Minister of Goa.” “The three times Chief Minister of Goa was also an eminent and highly respected surgeon. At the peak of his political career, he played a crucial role in attaining statehood for Goa. His contribution in making Konkani the official language of Goa is well known. “Dr Wilfred De Souza was an outstanding political figure, who served the society with distinction,” he added.
The 88-year-old veteran leader passed away this morning after suffering a heart attack. (Also Read: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, ex-servicemen begin indefinite strike for OROP)

Wilfred de Souza, a qualified surgeon, was admitted to a private hospital after he complained of breathlessness. He died following cardiac arrest at 9.15 a.m.One of the state’s most powerful minorities’ leaders, he served as chief minister on three occasions but could never complete a full term in office in the defection-ridden political era which the state witnessed in the 1990s.

The Uganda-born de Souza was also a member of several political parties throughout his long career as politician, that included United Goans Party, Congress, Goa Rajiv Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and the Trinamool Congress.Goa has announced a three-day state mourning following de Souza’s death.