Govt urged for bulletin on Vishnu's health, to counter social media rumours
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 26 August 2016 22:56 IST
GoaТs few leading artists, social activists and other close friends of deputy speaker Vishnu Wagh have come together, demanding regular information from the government regarding his health.
After receiving massive attack on 15th August, the St Andre MLA has been presently treated at Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai.
He was shifted to Mumbai in a critical condition from GMC hospital as his heart had stopped functioning for almost eight minutes (revived later), causing damage to his brain.
Since then, rumours have been floating on social media like Facebook and WhatsApp, creating confusion over the BJP MLA’s health condition.
“We want the government to clear this confusion by releasing daily bulletins about Vishnu’s health condition”, demanded Devidas Amonkar, a theatre artist and close friend of Wagh.
Echoing similar demand, Goa’s sitar maestro Pt Yograj Naik expressed dismay over the malicious messages being spread over social media regarding health condition of the artist-turned-politician.
Even before he was shifted to Mumbai, a post had started circulating that Wagh had expired.
To substantiate this claim, another post started circulating that the BJP government had decided to declare his death after BJP national president Amit Shah’s visit to Goa on 20th August.
While this rumour has been now proved wrong, yet another post claimed that the BJP has decided to postpone the announcement of his death till 30th August to avoid a bye-election in St Andre.
Claiming that the term of Goa Assembly ends on 30th March, the post said the bye-election within six months could be avoided if his death is announced after 30th August.
In reality, the term of Assembly ends in the first week of March and the Election Commission of India official has already announced that Goa’s Assembly poll would be held by mid-January, which is hardly five months away.
“We tend to believe such posts since the government simply does not bother to counter this propaganda and tell us the truth on regular basis”, said Pt Naik.
Jairam Redkar, another friend of Wagh, in fact demanded that such misguided posts should be banned by the government.
Kashinath Mayekar, leader of Mayem Vimochan Samiti, also said Wagh’s well-wishers spread all over Goa are concerned about his health, thus the government should keep Goans informed about his health.
Meanwhile, Dr P S Ramani, Goa-born world-famous neurosurgeon, sent a message to his doctor friend in Goa, as follows:
“Dear Dr Ramdas Naik,
I had gone abroad. Came early this morning and immediately went to see Vishnu. He is much better and responding to the treatment. Today the tube from the mouth will be removed. A hole will be made in the wind pipe in the neck to put the tube. (Tracheostomy). Keep prayers going.
Dr. P. S. RAMANI”
Everyone should sit tight and hope for the best nothing can change the reality or the course of happening. Is Govt. a doctor to issue daily briefings? Friendship and love for Vishnu is understandable, but friends and foes alike should restrain from talking rubbish.