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Sonia praises Indira Gandhi’s contribution to Indo-Russian relations
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Moscow, April 10 (IANS) UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday remembered how then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took the Indian-Russian relationship to a new level during Bangladeshs War of Independence and the then USSR stood like a rock with India.
She also stressed that India Gandhi “was an influential and tireless global voice for peace and disarmament.”
“Indira Gandhi took the Indo-Soviet link to a new level altogether, giving it solid strategic content as well. At India’s moment of grave crisis in 1971, leading up to and during the Bangladesh’s War of Independence, the USSR stood like a rock with India, something that Indira Gandhi never forgot.
“There was a genuine warmth and a rare chemistry between Indira Gandhi and the Russian leaders,” Gandhi said in her address at the Indira Gandhi Exhibition in Moscow, organised marking the Indira Gandhi’s Centenary Anniversary.
“This photographic exhibition on the centenary anniversary of Indira Gandhi, which is inaugurated today, covers the life and times of a remarkable political personality, India’s only woman Prime Minister. Incidentally, many mothers in the Soviet Union named their daughters after her,” she said.
She also said that India and the Soviet Union shared a special partnership that began in the early 1950s under India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and resulted in laying the foundations of India’s industrialization, “foundations that are still very visible”.
About Indira Gandhi’s contribution to disarmament, she said: “Just before she was killed in October 1984, she joined five other heads of state to issue a forceful appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Gandhi also said that her mother-in-law had “many and varied interests. She counted academicians, scientists, authors, poets, sculptors, painters and musicians across the world as her close personal friends – a good number of them from your country”.
She also said politics was Indira Gandhi’s calling but nature was her passion and she was among the first political leaders anywhere in the world to take up the cause of environmental protection.
“She was only one of two heads of government to address the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment at Stockholm in June 1972.
“Even while she was preoccupied with political matters, she was concerned about the Siberian crane. Just a few days before she was assassinated, India and the USSR signed a treaty for the protection of migratory birds,” she said.
Gandhi also said that it was only appropriate that Moscow was the first place where this photo exhibition was on display outside India.
“The exhibition tells the story of a courageous, compelling and charismatic leader who left an indelible imprint not only on her own country, not only on the India-USSR relationship but on the world stage as well.
“That India and Russia enjoy such excellent relations is in no small measure due to her legacy, a legacy that has been consolidated by President (Vladimir) Putin and successive Indian Prime Ministers,” she concluded.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.