National
BJP forges alliance with tribal party in Tripura
Agartala, Jan 25 (IANS) The BJP on Thursday forged an alliance with the tribal-based Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) to unitedly fight the Februsry 18 elections to the state assembly, Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here.
“After a series of discussions, the BJP and the IPFT (N.C. Debbarma faction) formed an alliance to fight unitedly against the ruling Left,” Sarma, the BJP in-charge of the Tripura elections, told the media.
According to the deal, the BJP will field candidates in 51 of the 60 seats and the IPFT in nine. “If any leader of other parties is keen to enter this alliance, he or she has to contest on BJP’s lotus symbol.”
Sarma, convener of the BJP-led anti-Congress North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said his party would not form any alliance with other two tribal-based parties — Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) and National Conference of Tripura (NCT).
“The names of the nominees would be declared on Saturday evening or Sunday morning,” said Sarma, a former Congress Minister who joined the BJP before Assam assembly elections in 2016.
On the IPFT’s separate state demand, he said the Modi government and a BJP-led government in Tripura — if one is formed — would take steps to develop the scio-economic condition, education, language and culture of the tribals.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and many other central leaders will campaign for the party from second week of February.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Congress have denounced the BJP for aligning with the IPFT which they say has links with the terrorist National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT). The IPFT has denied the accusations.
The IPFT since 2009 had been agitating for upgrading the existing Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to a separate tribal state.
The Congress is also discussing with NCT and INPT and Rajeshwar Debbarma-led faction of IPFT to forge a possible alliance with the three tribal-based parties. The INPT is an old electoral ally of Congress.
–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.