GA-WAGH-CREMATION

Former Goa BJP MLA Vishnu Wagh cremated in Ponda
    Panaji, Feb 17 (PTI) Former Goa BJP MLA and writer
Vishnu Wagh, who died in South Africa on February 8 while on
tour, was cremated Sunday in Ponda, about 30 kilometres from
here.
    Wagh (53), the BJP MLA from St Andre constituency in
North Goa between 2012-17 and a former deputy speaker in the
state Assembly, was ailing since August 2016 after suffering a
stroke.
    His remains arrived in the state in the early hours of
Sunday from South Africa and it was received here by Goa Art
and Culture Minister Govind Gawade and scores of well-wishers.
    The body was later kept at the Dayanand Bandodkar
Stadium in Ponda to allow people to pay homage.
    Among those who arrived to pay tribute to the departed
soul were State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai
Sardesai, Congress MLA Francis Silveira and Independent MLA
Prasad Gaonkar.
    Following a guard of honour by the Goa police, the
body was carried in a four-kilometre procession to the
crematorium in Ponda, with hundreds of people lining up along
the route.
    Wagh has written 20 plays in Marathi, 18 in Konkani
besides various 'sangeet natak' (musical dramas). PTI RPS
BNM BNM