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Ruckus in Lok Sabha as Tharoor says democracy betrayed
New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a ruckus when senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor held the ruling party responsible for the attack on his office in Kerala and issuing death threats. Ground rules of democracy are being betrayed by this party and its supporters, he said.
Though he named the party in context of the attack on his office in Thiruvananthapuram, the Chair later expunged the references to the two parties that came up during the exchanges.
Tharoor later told the media outside Parliament that the BJP was responsible for the attack. “Those who attacked my office should apologise. I am not withdrawing anything.”
“If you make India for one religion, that can probably break the country. When everyone is able to live together, how will that break the country,” he added.
Earlier, in the house, he appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence over the behaviour of his partymen and take action against “anti-national elements”.
“I raise before this house the attack on my constituency office in Thiruvananthapuram and the death threats I have received from members of the ruling party in response to my criticism of the far-right extremism,” Tharoor said during the Zero Hour.
“This is not just an attack on constitutionally sanctioned MP office but a larger attempt by incendiary elements to destroy the idea of India as a pluralistic and accepting democracy,” he added.
This led to a ruckus, with Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers raising slogans and demanding expunging of certain words in his remarks.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar said that another party’s supporters had attacked his Thiruvananthapuram office.
The Chair later intervened and expunged the names of the two political parties from the statements.
Tharoor said: “Their victims in recent months have included intellectuals, minorities, and various citizens of the country. Yesterday (Tuesday), even (social activist) Swami Agnivesh was attacked (in Jharkhand).”
“These are the people who have expressed dissent against rising intolerance in today’s India and they are being attacked physically,” the Congress leader said.
“… those who are doing this are disregarding the singular principle of our historic democratic consensus. In a diverse democracy like ours, you don’t really need to agree all the time, so long as you will agree on the ground rules of how you will disagree…,” Tharoor said.
“… that’s what we have seen with the no-confidence motion. But it’s not what we are seeing in the streets, where the ground rules of our democracy are being betrayed by those who have been elected by the people of India.”
The Congress leader accused the ruling party of “betraying” this basic ground rule.
“We should not stand by communal violence, mob-lynching and hooliganism that replace the rule of law and rights guaranteed by our Constitution,” said Tharoor.
–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.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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