The Secretary-General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Satnarayan Maharaj is in critical condition at the intensive care unit of the Medical Associates private hospital in St Joseph.
Guardian Media understands that Maharaj suffered a stroke and was warded at the hospital since November 1.
Sources at Medical Associates, have explained that the Secretary-General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha is on a ventilator and the doctors were trying to transition him to oxygen therapy yesterday morning. However, their efforts were to no avail.
GML has learnt that Maharaj’s eyes were not opening and this was the reason the doctors were keeping him on the ventilator.
According to the medical staff at the hospital, when he was admitted Maharaj was unable to move his hands or feet. However, medical staff confirmed that his hands and legs were now moving slightly on his right side.
The staff indicated that Maharaj was gradually getting better, but they could not say whether he will be out of the hospital soon.
Sources have explained that the doctors would like to perform a CT scan on Maharaj when he comes off the ventilator in order to come to a conclusion on his current state.
In an interview with GML, Maharaj’s son Vijay, confirmed that his father had suffered a stroke. Referring to social media posts that Maharaj was at death’s doors Vijay said, “There’s a lot of insinuations taking place out there.”
He continued, “I have my own media house, we will be giving an update tomorrow on Mr Maharaj’s condition.”
He told GML “Very briefly, after the graduation of Lakshmi Girls’ he started having breathing difficulties. I took him up to Medical Associates and unfortunately Mr Maharaj had a stroke.”
The factors that should be considered, according to Vijay, is that “Maharaj has had surgery on two occasions. He had a valve replacement and a lot of medical issues over the years.” Vijay also noted that his father had been afflicted with the virus.
Vijay said “He is down with a flu virus and he did get a stroke which has caused some complications.”
He continued, “At his age, he’s had heart surgery on two occasions, he’s diabetic and as you can imagine with an 88-year-old, I’ll leave that to your imagination - all the various things that can go at that particular juncture.”
Vijay said that he is not in denial of anything. He explained that his father is a public figure and he has “to be treated in that manner.”
Maharaj’s son argued his father “has the best doctors in T&T looking after him.” He expressed that the doctors will give an update this morning on the improvement or deterioration in his condition, “as the case may be.”
He noted that there have been many comments on social media with which he will not engage and will not be issuing any press release, however, later today, he would be with the President-General and the Dharmacharya on his radio station. He added that the announcement will be made after lunch because he (Vijay Maharaj) will be meeting with the doctors in the morning.
Responding to rumours about a takeover, in the event of his father’s passing, Vijay said, “there is no takeover taking place, that word is quite derogatory.”
He explained, “every year we have a conference in September, where it (a position) has to be ratified by the membership of the Maha Sabha.”
Vijay explained that he will be acting Secretary-General until September next year if anything were to happen to his father. He noted that a takeover cannot take place because according to the organisation’s constitution he will immediately act in the position of his father.
He affirmed, “No meetings are being had about takeovers, there is nothing to take over, it’s automatic in our constitution.” V Maharaj argued that rumour-mongering does not matter to him at this juncture. He said that his father still maintains his position as secretary-general.