It will get close to a week since the St Andre MLA, the very popular Vishnu Wagh complained of uneasiness yet again and was rushed to the Goa Medical College. His weakened heart could not keep pace with his relentless energy, his love for poetry and theatre and of course singing.
A few days before he had to be rushed to hospital and then flown to Mumbai in an air ambulance, under the strict supervision of doctors at the Hinduja hospital, he came out of the Assembly session and drove straight to Margao to be present at the finals of the Herald organised Goencho Awaz competiton, which Wagh has been supportive of from its inception. He sang as he spoke, and he spoke as he sang. It was vintage Vishnu at his very best. His happiness stemmed from the fact that young singing talent is getting discovered and been given a platform and stage for a leap into the future.
For these reasons, and the fact that he is an elected representative of the people, Goa deserves more information, a regular information and a credible bulletin about his health, even as ominous reports continue to emanate about him and his health, indicating the worst. It is not just important but necessary for the government to disclose at whatever stage it feels necessary, the following:
1) Circumstances which existed when he complained of uneasiness and rushed to hospital 2) What did the initial examinations conclude and what was his exact condition then. 2) Were reports that he was “stable” which were officially communicated, a true reflection of his health, on day two of his admission to GMC. 3) The change in circumstances from the earlier report of he being stable, which forced the Chief Minister to take the call to airlift him to Hinduja. 4) Is it true that Hinduja doctors had initially advised against shifting him in this “critical” condition?
What cannot wait to be disclosed though is his present condition which should be released by doctors of the Hinduja authorized to do so. Without going into specifics, all people need to know are whether all his vital faculties are functioning and whether there has been even a trifle improvement in his condition.
Quite obviously, the people of Goa will respect his family’s privacy and will not over intrude into personal spaces. But as an elected representative and more so, since he won the hearts of many through his singing and poetry, the need for the questions raised above and the importance of knowing how he is, should be felt by this government. The guessing game over his life and the rumours on social media, take away the dignity of a man who is devoid of his senses now.
While hope lies eternal and we pray for Vishnu’s recovery, his active presence on Goa’s cultural, social and political scene looks more of a miracle than ever before.
And finally, as he lies battling for his life in hospital, we should desist second guessing and taking to the social media about him. There is no point starting a blame game, but there is every point in asking the government to be completely transparent about what happened after he was admitted to GMC.
