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Modi’s ‘undeclared Emergency’ a slow poison: Yashwant Sinha
Panaji, May 9 (IANS) The Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi was different from the “undeclared emergency” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is a slow poison injected into the body politic of India, former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said on Wednesday.
Addressing a public meeting in Panaji, Sinha also slammed sudden re-naming of the national capital’s Akbar Road to Maharana Pratap Road by unknown persons, claiming that lumpen elements were being promoted by the Modi government.
“Indira Gandhi announced Emergency overnight and all opponents were imprisoned… In today’s Emergency, there is an atmosphere of fear. It has come unannounced. It did not happen suddenly, therefore we have not realised it. It is a slow poison which is being injected into the body politic of this country,” Sinha said.
He was accompanied at the function by former Union Minister and BJP rebel Shatrughan Sinha as well as Aam Aadmi Party’s Goa Convenor Elvis Gomes.
“The second difference is that Indira Gandhi’s Emergency was a political decision. It was a political step to save her chair. But today’s Emergency has a huge element of communalism,” he said.
Citing the example of a “small thing called a mobile phone”, he said: “You get messages, I get them too. People send messages like they are crazy and through this, a social division is being created in this country. We are becoming enemies of each other. And that day is not far when we will pick up weapons and kill each other.”
Sinha urged the audience to speak up and fight to protect secularism in India.
The former Minister said the country was witnessing large-scale agrarian distress and severe job losses, which he said were not the indicators of a galloping economy, which the Modi government had claimed to have achieved.
“In a fastest growing economy, you do not see farmer distress and unemployment and huge NPAs.”
Referring to the unofficial “renaming” of Delhi’s Akbar Road to Maharana Pratap Road, Sinha said the writ of the lumpen elements was writ large on the current dispensation.
“Who has renamed it? Has it been done by authorised people? Lumpen people will go anywhere and rewrite anything. The Rajasthan government has said that Maharana Pratap, for whom we have great regard, defeated the Moghul army at Haldighati battlefield. If he defeated then why did he run to hills and spent years eating grass rotis?” Sinha said.
“Akbar Road will be changed, Aurangzeb Road will be changed. These little things will come together one day and become a whirlwind. That is the fear and apprehension of people like us,” he added.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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.