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HPCL disinvestment a ‘jugglery’ of BJP government before Budget, says Congress

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New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) The Congress on Monday criticised the Modi government over Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) buying the Centre’s shares in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) as mere “jugglery” to show that the government has maintained the fiscal target of disinvestment before the Union Budget 2018.

“The ONGC move to buy the shares of HPCL is just a step by the government to show their balance sheet of disinvestment. It is just a way of the jugglery of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government,” Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told media here.

He alleged that the government was doing it because it has not been able to achieve its disinvestment targets in the last three years.

“In 2014-15 the government missed the target of disinvestment by 44 per cent, in 2015-16 it missed the target by 41 per cent and in 2016-17 it missed it by over 20 per cent,” Singhvi said.

The Congress leader said that to buy the shares of the HPCL, the ONGC, which is a profitable company owned by the government, has to borrow Rs 30,000 crore.

Singhvi’s remarks came two days after ONGC said that it will acquire the government’s 51.11 per cent equity share-holding in HPCL at a consideration of Rs 36,915 crore.

Through the single share sale, the Centre would be able to meet half of its disinvestment target of Rs 72,500 crore for 2017-18.

Hitting out at the government over the rising prices of petrol and diesel, the Congress leader said the government earned about Rs 6,000 crore in the last three years. “And it did not pass a single penny of that to the common man,” he said.

“In 2014, before we demitted office, we bought crude oil at $105 per barrel. Whereas for the last three years the prices of crude has remained very low, in 2014-15 it was $46 per barrel, in 2016-17 it was $47 per barrel and in 2017-18 it is now $68,” he said.

“Even when the prices of crude oil were high, we (Congress-led UPA) were able to control the petrol and diesel prices, but under this government the prices of petrol and diesel has reached a record high of Rs 80.10 and Rs 67.10 per litre respectively in Mumbai,” he said.

The Congress said that according to a report of Morgan and Stanley the fiscal deficit is likely to increase by 3.5 per cent.

–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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