National
On R-Day, BJP-opposition face-off in Maharashtra (Lead)
Mumbai, Jan 26 (IANS) Uniting for a common cause, Maharashtra’s opposition parties took out silent marches for what they called “Save the Constitution” while the ruling BJP countered it by organising a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ here on Friday, to coincide with the 69th Republic Day celebrations across the state.
The opposition’s ‘Save Constitution’ rally, coming on the day independent India’s Constitution was adopted, was launched from the statue of its chief architect B.R. Ambedkar near Churchgate and terminated at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue near the Gateway of India in the afternoon, with around 5,000 people joining it.
Simultaneous silent ‘Save Constitution’ processions were held by opposition activists in all districts in the state.
The galaxy of opposition leaders at the silent march included Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan, Janata Dal-United breakaway faction’s leader Sharad Yadav, Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI General Secretary D. Raja, and rally convenor and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti.
Also present were Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Tripathi, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti chief Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore, Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and activist-journalist Jatin Desai.
Senior Maharashtra leaders including Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil (Congress), Leader of Opposition in the Council Dhananjay Munde (NCP), Ajit Pawar, Manikrao Thakre, ex-BJP MP Nana Patole, Supriya Pawar, Jitendra Awhad, Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam and Sachin Sawant were also present.
Other prominent participants were former Union Ministers Prithviraj Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Praful Patel, while senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani attended a pre-rally meeting this morning.
Later, Sharad Pawar said all “like-minded opposition parties” will meet in New Delhi to plan out a strategy to “save the Constitution” and take on the BJP in the coming elections.
Yechury said the fundamental rights of the people, as enshrined in the Constitution, are under ‘assault’ by the BJP and all opposition parties want to save the nation from “destruction” by the party ruling in Maharashtra and the Centre.
Ashok Chavan accused the government of veering towards ‘dictatorship’ by attempting to change the Constitution, a move that he said poses a grave threat to the country.
“It was a silent and symbolic procession to ‘Save the Constitution’. There were no banners, no speeches, no slogans of any kind,” Shetti said later.
In a counter to the opposition procession, the Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party took out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ (Tricolour March) in Mumbai and all other districts of the state.
Top BJP leaders, including state unit President Raosaheb Patil-Danve, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Mumbai party chief Ashish Shelar and others visited the Ambedkar memorial Chaityabhoomi in Dadar and offered tributes.
Later, addressing a BJP rally at the Kamgar Maidan, Fadnavis attacked the opposition for their procession in south Mumbai.
“The Constitution is intact. What they held today was a ‘Save Party’ rally and not ‘Save Constitution’ rally,” Fadnavis said.
He said when they (Congress-NCP) were in power, they indulged in rampant corruption and didn’t remember the Constitution.
“The Constitution is our mother,” Fadnavis said amid applause at the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in which several Ministers, parliamentarians and legislators participated.
Later this afternoon, it transpired that Mumbai Police was planning action against the opposition parties for organising the ‘Save Constitution’ march “without permission”.
–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.