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.