Manohar Parrikar (file photo) | Photo Credit: PTI

New Delhi/ Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on his 63rd birthday. This is the first time that the ailing former Defence Minister has not participated in his birthday celebrations, in his two-decade-long political career. "Birthday greetings to my friend and Goa's CM @manoharparrikarji. Parrikarji is known for his compassionate, down to earth and hardworking nature. He is extremely passionate about Goa's development... The entire nation prays for Parrikarji's good health," PM Modi said in a tweet on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Goa unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party organised a number of events to mark the occasion. Parrikar's elder son Utpal and former Panaji MLA Siddharth Kunkolienkar led the celebration and held prayers at the Mahalaxmi temple and prayed for Parrikar's speedy recovery. The state BJP unit also held a blood donation camp at the party HQ in Panaji.

Parrikar, who was diagnosed with an advanced stage pancreatic cancer has been recuperating at his private residence in Dona Paula after being discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). the state Congress leadership has targetted the BJP over playing with Parrikar's health by making him continue holding the office of the Chief Minister. On Thursday, the Goa government told Bombay High Court that the mere diagnosis of cancer was not enough to ask the CM to resign from his office. "Just the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is not enough to ask the chief minister to resign from office," the government said. "Steve Jobs was diagnosed with the same pancreatic cancer. In fact, much of his accomplishments came after his diagnosis," it further said.