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Kerala CM rules out pre-poll alliance with Congress (IANS Interview)

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By V.S. Chandrasekar
New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) A pre-poll alliance with the Congress is ruled out, says Kerala Chief Minister and CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan, who appears not to completely rule out a tactical tie-up with it after the 2019 general elections to check the BJP.

The Marxist leader also favours his party taking the initiative in mobilising secular parties, especially the regional ones, against the Bharatiya Janata Party in various states.

“Generally speaking, there is no question of any truck or alliance with the Congress. The Congress is not a party with which we can have an alliance. Other things are hypothetical,” Vijayan told IANS in an interview here.

The Chief Minister also talked about the “flop show” of the BJP-RSS against the Left in Kerala and controversies like beef ban and the atmosphere of intolerance in the country.

Having come under pressure from the BJP and the RSS-led Sangh Parivar, which has launched an aggressive campaign ‘Janraksha Yatra’ (Protect People March) in his state, the veteran leader vowed to fight the BJP and the Sangh Parivar “tooth and nail”, saying they want to “destroy” Kerala, which the people won’t support.

The BJP had become “a national enemy with its policies” and the country was in deep economic trouble due to demonetisation and the GST (Goods and Services Tax), he said.

He also accused the BJP of towing the RSS line completely and spreading intolerance in the society by forcing people’s eating habits and violence against intellectuals.

The CPI-M leader’s stand on pre-poll alliance assumes significance in the context of the just-concluded three-day meeting of the party Central Committee, which discussed the issue amid speculation that a section of the party, led by General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and including V.S. Achutanandan, favoured a tie-up with the Congress to take on the BJP.

Media reports say the Central Committee was divided 32-31 against a tie-up with the Congress. The section led by former General Secretary Prakash Karat was said to be strongly opposed to doing business with the Congress.

Asked if the party would reconsider the strategy of not tying up with the Congress to keep the BJP at bay, Vijayan said: “Things about elections the party will decide at that time. We can talk about it only at that time. We cannot take a total stand right now.”

To a question whether tactical seat adjustments with the Congress was possible, he said: “In this current atmosphere, this is our stand. Rest of the things we will think at the time of the election.”

The Chief Minister said that even in 2004 elections, because of the danger of the BJP, the Left and the Congress entered into a Common Minimum Programme, but the government formed by the Congress pursued neo-liberalisation policies, which were now being followed by BJP.

“The BJP is the main enemy, but that doesn’t mean that the policies of the Congress are welcome. To oppose communalism and neo-liberal policies is our stand,” the leader said. The Congress never accepted that it made a mistake, he added.

On tying up with non-Congress secular parties, he said the CPI-M would make electoral alliances to defeat the BJP.

Asked about the recurring political violence in Kannur district in Kerala between the CPI-M and RSS cadres, the trigger for the Sangh Parivar’s verbal assault on the ruling party, Vijayan laid the blame squarely on the RSS.

“The RSS started it. The attack was started to gain power (control of area) in a specific way.

“Now, we tried to end these violence through peace talks. After becoming Chief Minister, we had discussions in two stages: All party meeting and bilateral meetings and a consensus was reached to restore peace,” he added

But, Vijayan said, after the talks there have been incidents and the RSS had given leadership. “That’s why the whole problem is not ending.”

He referred to the much-publicised Janraksha Yatra this month when BJP President Amit Shah travelled to Payyannur in Kannur to launch the campaign, which Vijayan termed “a complete flop.”

“Amit Shah thought and gave an impression that the whole of Kerala will go berserk and follow him. In their march, apart from those walking on the road with them, there was no one to welcome them. Because of the failure, the next day Amit Shah called off a march he was to carry through in front of my house in Kannur,” the veteran leader said.

Vijayan said for the first time in the history of the country the entire power of the Centre was used in a state against a political rival.

“Central ministers, Chief Ministers of different states and MPs all had come to Kerala for the march. Even though it is said to be BJP’s march, actually the RSS is behind it. The RSS chief in his Vijayadasami speech had attacked Kerala and the march followed the speech.”

The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the result in the Assembly by-election in Vengara, where the BJP was pushed to the fourth position in the midst of attempts by the RSS to pitchfork the party to the front.

Though the LDF lost the elections, it raised its vote share by getting 40,000 plus votes in the area, which is dominated by Indian Union Muslim League.

On the controversies surrounding the ban on beef, Vijayan said the BJP was implementing RSS’ policies of intolerance.

“People have different eating habits. Can anyone say that you should eat only what I eat? If someone does, can the society accept it? But they (BJP) sought to enforce it with very high intolerance. What right do I have to look at what is the food stored in your kitchen? They’re doing this because they’re in power,” Vijayan said.

Referring to killing of intellectuals by suspected rightwing forces, he said: “Your opinion may not match mine and I can oppose it openly and that’s the tradition which was being followed in our country. But now people who speak up are being killed. Thinkers Pansare, Kalburgi, Dabholkar were killed. Then Gauri Lankesh and Santanu. All this shows a high level of intolerance.”

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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.

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