National
Thousands protest Lankesh murder in Bengaluru (Lead)
Bengaluru, Sep 12 (IANS) Thousands of social activists, journalists, people’s forums and various political party workers from across the country on Tuesday held a protest meet at Central College Grounds here to condemn the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh.
A ‘resistance meeting’ was held here where renowned journalists, activists and thinkers from demanded that the Karnataka government “hastens” the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) probe into the murder.A
The 55-year-old editor of Kannada weekly tabloid by her name “Gauri Lankesh Patrike” was gunned down by unidentified men outside her home in the city suburbs on September 5.
Those present at the protest venue included CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, noted social activist Medha Patkar, journalists P. Sainath and Sagarika Ghose and civil rights activist Kavita Krishnan among others.
Lankesh’s family members, mother Indira Lankesh and brother Indrajit Lankesh were also present.
A commemorativeAedition of the Kannada tabloid “Gauri Lankesh Patrike” was launched at the venue.
Addressing the gathering, Patkar questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the killing.
“Why is the Prime Minister of the country silent on Gauri Lankesh killing even after a week?” she asked.
Sainath said: “The killings aren’t over. There will be more, unless we stop them. What we’re up against is the largest machine of hate.”
Protesting journalists, activists and thinkers came out with a list of demands/decisions pertinent to Lankesh’s killing through a statement.
“The inquiry which is underway through the SIT formed by the state government should hasten and complete its enquiry and identify the powers behind the murder,” said the statement.
“We are all witness to how several organisations and individuals affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Hindu Jagarana Vedike, Vishva Hindu Parishad et al have been celebrating Gauri Lankesh’s murder,” the protesters said.
“We at the resistance meeting condemn this inhuman behaviour, which is not supported by any religious teachings.
“Gauri Lankesh was murdered only to silence the voice of humanity and democratic struggles that she represented,” the statement said.
“Those of us here would like to tell her murderers loud and clear: ‘I am Gauri, we are all Gauri’,” it added.A
Wearing black head bands that read “I am Gauri”, the protesters took out the march from the city railway station to the Central College Grounds.
Members of the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist-Liberation, Karnataka Janashakthi, Aam Aadmi Party and several student groups were also part of the rally.
Those protesting were seen singing protest songs, raising slogans like “Gauri Lankesh Amar Rahe” (Long live Gauri Lankesh) and demanding that Lankesh’s assailants be brought to book.
The progressive forum “Gauri Lankesh Hatya Virodhi Vedike” took out the rally.
“The forum of progressive thinkers, writers, social activists, artistes and intellectuals was formed last Friday to fight against Lankesh killing and decided to hold the national-level ‘resistance convention’ here,” the forum convenor K. Leela had told reporters on Monday.
–IANS
bha/fb/vd
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.