National
Congress, BJP give shutdown call in Odisha over gang rape victim’s death
Bhubaneswar, Jan 23 (IANS) The opposition Congress and BJP on Tuesday announced a dawn-to-dusk shutdown across Odisha on Wednesday to protest against the death of the Kunduli gang rape victim and blamed the state government for it.
Both parties said that emergency services, including plying of ambulances and opening of medical stores, would be exempted. Students appearing in various examinations would also be allowed to proceed.
The minor girl, allegedly gang raped by securitymen on October 10 last year, hanged herself at her house in Sorisapadar village in Koraput district on Monday.
The girl was sexually assaulted when she was returning from Kunduli market near her village.
While the Congress state unit announced a 12-hour bandh from 6 a.m. across Odisha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit said it too would organise a 12-hour ‘hartal’.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Prasad Harichandan appealed to the state’s people for cooperation in making the shutdown a success.
Demanding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s resignation on moral grounds, he accused the state government of failing to probe the case and arrest the culprits.
State BJP General Secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the party will strike across the state to protest government inaction.
The BJP leader said students slated to appear in examinations would be spared if they show their admit cards.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) accused both parties of “politicising” the issue.
“They are just politicising the issue. It is natural for the opposition to create a hullabaloo over this incident and ask for resignation as it is their job. I request them not to derive any political mileage from this unfortunate incident as it sets a bad precedent,” BJD Spokesperson Pratab Keshari Deb said.
The Commissionerate Police on Tuesday lathicharged BJP activists who staged a protest march to gherao Naveen Niwas, the Chief Minister’s residence, to press for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the girl’s suicide.
Hundreds of BJP workers participated in the protest march from Ram Mandir Chhak to Naveen Niwas here.
–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.