Former Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar passes away

Muscat: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has passed away at the age of 63 after battling cancer for more than a year.

His office said in a statement: "We inform with deep grief that our beloved Chief Minister of Goa Shri. Manohar Parrikar passed away today evening, after a spirited battle against cancer."

Earlier today, the Chief Minister's Office had reported that Parrikar's condition was critical.

"Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's health condition is extremely critical," his office had announced. "Doctors are trying their best."

Parrikar was formerly the Defence Minister in the Narendra Modi government, and oversaw the nation's defence during the reported 2016 Indian surgical military strikes.

Congress MP for Thiruvananthapuram and former Minister for State Shashi Tharoor was among those who mourned his passing, saying: "Mourning the loss of Manohar Parrikar, a rare IIT graduate in politics who was widely admired for his simplicity & straightforwardness. Wishing his family strength and peace at this time of grief."