National
Appointment of interlocutor diversionary tactic, ‘azadi’ demand is for autonomy: Chidambaram (Lead)
New Delhi/Mumbai, Oct 28 (IANS) Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Saturday said the appointment of an interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir was a “diversionary” tactic and felt the “azadi” demand meant people want autonomy which should be seriously examined.
He said the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma to hold talks in Kashmir doesn’t indicate a change of heart or approach by the Centre in its policy but that it will continue to hold on to its “muscular policy and military solution”.
Chidambaram said he was worried about what was happening in the valley as there was a deep ferment there.
“The appointment of the interlocutor should not lead us to think that there is a change of heart of the government. I don’t believe that there is a change of heart or change of approach. I still believe that they will continue to hold on to the muscular policy and military solution,” the Congress leader told The Wire news portal.
Chidambaram said the appointment of Sharma to open talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir was a “diversionary move” to appease a section that was asking why the government was not holding talks in the troubled state.
He said Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh had clarified that Sharma was not an interlocutor and Army chief General Bipin Rawat had stressed that the move won’t have any impact on military operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I think those two voices reflect the real view of the government,” he said.
Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Chidambaram said when people in Kashmir ask for “azadi” most of them want autonomy.
“Therefore, I think we should seriously examine the autonomy demand. It is very much within the Constitution. Jammu and Kashmir will remain an integral part of India with some amount of autonomy.”
In his interview with The Wire, Chidambaram said he was not convinced that Sharma “has any mandate to hold meaningful talks with all sections of the society”.
He said the government’s Kashmir policy was “misguided” and that had deteriorated the situation in the state.
“The situation in Kashmir is worse than at any time before, and certainly worse than what it was in 2011.
“All the good work done between 2011 and say up to even the middle of 2015 after the NDA came to power… all that has been wiped out in the last two years.”
–IANS
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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.