National
Visiting hilltop temple, hopping villages, Rahul ends Gujarat campaign
By Darshan Desai
Chotila (Gujarat), Sep 27 (IANS) Wading through the heat and dust of Gujarat’s caste-driven, economically backward Saurashtra region for three full days, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi ended his last day on Wednesday by climbing the 900 steep steps of the popular hilltop Chotila temple, catching the imagination of the crowds who followed and watched him.
Gandhi, who began his campaign on Monday by offering prayers at the famous Dwakadheesh temple in Dwarka, followed it Wednesday not only with the Chamunda Mata in Chotila but also with that of the Patidar deity Khodaldham in Kagvad village near Rajkot. He wooed the agitating Patidars and harried farmers, taking potshots at the central and the state governments.
Locals and Congress workers gathered at the foot of the Chotila hill were seen engaged in animated debates whether the Gandhi scion would be able to scale the 900 tough steps up to the temple.
“I could make it only half as I followed Rahul Gandhi, who continued at a steady pace and finished the journey up and down in 47 minutes,” a local told IANS as he panted trying to catch up with the Congress leader.
He said for the locals, “the very presence of the Congress leader between them chatting up, often with some words in Gujarati, was adequate to enthuse them”.
On the final day of his ‘Navsarjan Yatra’, Gandhi asked the motley gathering at Chotila in Surendranagar district before climbing the hill. “What has happened to development in Gujarat? This is the first time that development has gone mad.”
“Vikas gando thayo chhe (development has gone bonkers),” Rahul Gandhi continued in Gujarati, leaving the people in peels of laughter in the wake of the social media campaign for over a month with this catchline taunting the BJP government.
He promised that if voted to power, the Congress would waive off the loans of farmers.
“The Congress government waived off loans in Karnataka and Punjab. This trend will continue in Gujarat if Congress comes to power,” he said.
Taking a cue from BJP veteran Yashwant Sinha who attacked the “hasty implementation” of the Goods and Services Tax and “poorly conceived demonetizationa initiative, Gandhi reiterated his criticism.
He tweeted: “Ladies & Gentlemen, this is your co-pilot & FM speaking. Plz fasten your seat belts & take brace position. The wings have fallen off our plane.”
Apparently hassled over Gandhi’s sweltering three-day campaign and stinging criticism, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani called him and the Congress party bats who “cannot see during the day”.
A usually soft-spoken and mild-mannered Rupani blurted: “Rahul Gandhi aney Congress party chaama-chidiya jeva chhey, e loko ne divas ma dekhatu nathi. Etle jemne Gujarat no vikas dekhato nathi (Rahul and Congress are like bats, they can’t see the development of Gujarat).”
–IANS
desai/mr
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.