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Will consider sending New York attack suspect to Guantanamo: Trump

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Washington, Nov 2 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said he will consider sending the suspect in Tuesday’s terror attack in New York to the Guantanamo Bay military prison.

Trump also said he would ask Congress to terminate the visa lottery program under which the suspect Sayfullo Saipova, a native of Uzbekistan, entered the country.

During a meeting with his Cabinet at the White House on Wednesday, Trump told reporters the US government needed to be much tougher and smarter and less politically correct and accused previous administrations, particularly that of predecessor Barack Obama, of being overly soft on immigration and terrorism, Efe news reported.

“Send him to Gitmo – I would certainly consider that,” Trump, using a nickname for Guantanamo, said when asked about that possibility by one reporter.

No one detained on US soil has ever been sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, located on a US military base in Cuba, and no suspected terrorists captured abroad have been transferred there since 2008.

Obama vowed to close Guantanamo upon taking office in early 2009; although he did not keep that promise, he reduced its population from 242 inmates to 41 by transferring nearly 200 individuals to third countries.

While awaiting fresh details about the 29-year-old Uzbek suspect, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Efe news on Wednesday that Saipov had entered the country under the so-called Diversity Visa Lottery Program, which offers up to 50,000 visas per year to nations with a low rate of immigration to the US.

Trump had been critical of that program prior to Tuesday’s attack, but on Wednesday he went a step further.

“I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program. I am going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program,” Trump said.

“We want a merit-based program where people come into our country based on merit and we want to get rid of chain migration,” Trump added, telling reporters that Saipov had been allowed to bring in 23 other people as a “primary point of contact.”

The Diversity Visa Lottery Program originated in a bill that was introduced in 1990 by US lawmaker Chuck Schumer (then a member of the US House of Representatives) and subsequently absorbed into a broader immigration bill that was passed with the votes of Democrats and Republicans and signed by then-President George H.W. Bush.

Investigators say Saipov on Tuesday used a rented Home Depot pickup truck to run over several people on a crowded bike path along the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan, killing eight and injuring 13 before smashing into a school bus.

The suspect, who eyewitnesses say screamed “Allahu Akbar,” Arabic for “God is great,” and waved a paintball gun and a pellet gun after stepping out of the vehicle, was shot at least once in the abdomen by police and is now hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

Saipov had spent several weeks preparing the attack and precisely followed the online instructions of the Islamic State terror organization, authorities in New York said on Wednesday in a press conference.

–IANS
pgh/

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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.

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