Goa Church asks Catholics to pray for Parrikar s health

Panaji Feb 20 (IANS) Goa s Roman Catholic Church has asked its followers to fervently pray for the good health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar hospitalised at Mumbai s Lilavati Hospital since February 15 for pancreas-related ailment.

In a statement here Goa s Archbishop Filip Neri Ferrao asked Goa s Catholics to "pray for the fast recovery of our ailing Chief Minister".

He has also appealed to the community to raise fervent prayers for Parrikar s good health.

Catholics account for more than 25 per cent of Goa s 1.5 million population.

While the Chief Minister s Office and Lilavati Hospital have insisted that Parrikar a former Defence Minister is responding well to treatment he failed to attend the ongoing Assembly Budget Session giving rise to speculation on the severity of his ailment.

--IANS
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