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Delhi Minister sends legal notice to BJP leaders over ‘defamatory’ statement (Lead)
New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Friday sent a legal notice to the BJP’s Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa as well as rebel AAP leader Kapil Mishra for allegedly making “false and defamatory allegations” against him regarding cutting of trees in the national capital.
Imran sought written unconditional apologies from these leaders who had allegedly accused him of accepting Rs 23 crore as commission to approve cutting of trees in Delhi.
The notice sent through lawyer B.S. Joon directed the three to hold a press conference and apologise to the Minister and retract their allegations.
“If Gupta, Sirsa and Mishra failed to apologies within seven days, Imran Hussain shall be constrained to take civil as well as criminal action against them,” said the legal notice.
Gupta, however, denied receiving the legal notice.
He told IANS: “They have told the world about the legal notice, but I am yet to receive any copy. They (AAP) are spreading lies and are misleading the people on the matter.”
The legal notice by Imran Hussain was sent in the backdrop of the blame game over felling of trees for the Centre’s redevelopment project in south Delhi.
On June 26, Gupta had staged a protest outside the Sarojini Nagar police station and accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of “lying on the issue”, while claiming that the Arvind Kejriwal government itself accorded approval for the felling of trees, but is now accusing the Union government on the matter.
The government-run NBCC India Ltd, that is redeveloping infrastructure in south Delhi that required axing of thousands of trees, had sought approval from the Delhi government for the felling of trees, which was recommended and approved by Environment Minister Imran Hussain, the BJP leader had alleged.
“NBCC also made an advance payment of Rs 22,54,35,000 to the Delhi government towards security deposit for the creation and maintenance of compensatory plantation for the Netaji Nagar and Nauroji Nagar projects,” Gupta had claimed.
He had said that as per the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, (Delhi Act 1994) the city government is fully competent to grant approval for the felling of trees.
In the legal notice, the Delhi Minister claimed that Gupta had under a criminal conspiracy made false allegation that he took Rs 23 crore as commission to approve the cutting of trees, which was broadcast on several TV channels and published in newspapers.
“The false, unfounded, uncorroborated and malicious imputations concerning Hussain and his party (AAP) was made by Gupta and others to harm his reputation,” the notice added.
The six south Delhi colonies where the trees were to be felled are Sarojini Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Thyagaraja Nagar, Mohammadpur and Kasturba Nagar.
In all these areas housing government employees, the central government is pulling down houses built in the 1950s for constructing high-rise buildings.
–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.