Not retiring from politics: Parrikar

Panaji, November 30

A day after hinting at possible retirement, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday took to Twitter to insist that retirement from politics was not on cards.

On his Twitter handle, Parrikar, a former Goa chief minister, said: "My correct statement - At the age of 60, normally people think of retirement and perhaps I would have also... But I had to take bigger responsibilities at the Centre. I assure you I will come back only after finishing the task I am given."

On Sunday, Parrikar had hinted at retirement while speaking at the Lokmanya Multipurpose Co-Operative Credit Society in Mapusa town, about 10-km north of Panaji.

"After 60 (years), one has to think about retirement. I turn 60 on December 13, therefore, I had started thinking about retirement two-three years back.

"I have to intensify that, therefore, I don't feel inclined to take up big responsibilities," said Parrikar, one of the state's tallest politicians.

After serving as chief minister since 2012, Parrikar was inducted into the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government in late 2014.

Meanwhile, responding to his earlier comment, Congress MP Shantaram Naik said Parrikar was keen on coming back to state politics.

"He might have also felt frustrated in the defence ministry as, he has, practically, no effective role to play except, to act as a postman of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet," Naik said on Monday. —IANS