Manohar Parrikar mourns death of ex-MLA Vishnu Wagh

Panaji, Feb 14 Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of noted writer and state Assembly's former deputy speaker Vishnu Wagh.

Wagh was a "skilled identity" who excelled in various fields, said Parrikar, who has been suffering from a pancreatic ailment and as of now recovering at his private residence near here.

The 53-year-old former BJP MLA had been debilitated since August 2016 after suffering a heart stroke.

He passed on February 8 in South Africa while he was on a tour of Cape Town, his wife had said on Wednesday.

"Deeply saddened to hear adjoin the passing away of Shri Vishu Wagh, my previous partner in the Goa Assembly and Ex Deputy Speaker. Vishnu Wagh was an exceptionally talented identity who excelled in different fields. May God give his family the courage and strength to bear this great loss. My heartfelt sympathies to the family," Parrikar said in tweet.

Wagh was a member of the state Assembly from St Andre body electorate in North Goa district between 2012 and 2017.

He wrote over 20 plays in Marathi, three musical dramas, 18 Konkani plays, 16 one-act plays and six volumes of poetry.

He also directed more than 50 plays in Konkani and Marathi languages.