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Rahul should apologize for Azad, Soz’s statements, demands Amit Shah (Lead)
Jammu, June 23 (IANS) BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday lashed out at the Congress for what he called anti-national statements made by two of its senior leaders, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Saifuddin Soz, and demanded Congress President Rahul Gandhi should apologize.
Addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally at the Parade Ground here, he accused Azad and Soz of making statements against the national interest.
“Ghulam Nabi Azad has made a statement whose words I do not want to repeat. His statement was supported by the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). What relations does the Congress have with the LeT? Saifuddin Soz has said that he agreed with former Pakistan President, General Musharraf, that Kashmiris want independence from India,” he said.
Saying the Congress “seems to have come out in its true colours” after the BJP withdrew support to the PDP-led coalition government, leading to its collapse, in anticipation of the elections, he asked: “Shouldn’t the Congress President question these statements of his party leaders and apologize to the nation?
“But, I am sure Rahul Gandhi will not do that. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and no power on earth can change this reality.
“Our senior leaders like Syama Prasad Mookerji have given their blood for the integrity of the country,” he said, adding how Mookerjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, considered the forerunner of the BJP, had been arrested when he entered the state in 1953 and allegedly murdered in prison.
Azad said recently that while the security forces in Kashmir killed one militant, they killed 13 civilians with him, while Soz, in his forthcoming book on Kashmir, said that the majority of Kashmiris want independence.
The BJP President said since the people of Jammu had given a massive mandate in favour of his party in the 2014 Assembly elections, he felt it necessary to come and explain to them the reasons for which the BJP withdrew from the Peoples Democratic Party-led coalition in the state.
He accused former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of having blocked the development of Jammu and Ladakh despite the Narendra Modi-led Central government releasing huge sums of money for these regions.
“Developmental activities of the Jammu and Ladakh regions were deliberately halted which forced us to withdraw from the alliance,” he said, noting that despite Jammu being declared as a ‘Smart City’, the PDP had not started work towards this.
Amit Shah said previous governments of PDP and the National Conference were corrupt along with those of the Congress in the state.
He said if an audit of the assets of the leaders of these parties is held, their personal wealth will surpass that of the whole state.
Seeking to dispel the media narrative that Governor’s rule was imposed in the state because of the law and order situation, he said that the Governor’s rule was in fact imposed to ensure equitable development in the state.
During his two-day visit here, Shah is chairing a meeting of BJP core group to discuss the party strategy for the 2019 general elections.
Arriving here for the first time after the BJP withdrew from the ruling coalition leading to Governor’s rule, Shah was accompanied by a motorcycle rally of BJP Yuva Morcha activists from the airport to the Canal Road guest house.
–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.