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Party MLAs attending Bathinda convention misguided: AAP
Chandigarh, Aug 2 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab unit Co-President Balbir Singh on Thursday said that party legislators and leaders who attended the convention in Bathinda are “misguided” and hoped that they will fall in line to strengthen the party.
Balbir Singh said that holding a convention under the AAP banner without consulting state and central leadership is “illegal and the leaders must avoid such activities in future”.
“These leaders are marching on the road that leads to nowhere,” he said in the first official reaction from the party to a volunteers’ convention called by AAP rebels led by former Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
Khaira and six other AAP lawmakers had attended the convention, where different resolutions were adopted.
“Lesser than expected people attended the convention, despite efforts made by the Akalis-BJP-RSS combine and the Bains brothers (of Lok Insaaf Party). The claims that around 14 MLAs attended the event also fell flat,” Balbir Singh said.
He appealed to these leaders to “come and talk to the party central leadership and work for the betterment of the state”.
He said that the MLAs and state office-bearers have suggested to the AAP central leadership to not take disciplinary action against those who attended the convention.
Led by Khaira, who organised the Bathinda convention on Thursday, the AAP rebels moved and passed resolutions which gave ‘autonomy’ to the AAP’s Punjab unit, dissolved the organisational structure of the state unit and rejected the unceremonious removal of Khaira as Leader of Opposition in Assembly by the Delhi leadership.
Eleven out of the 20 AAP legislators in the Punjab Assembly visited Delhi on Thursday and had a breakfast meeting with AAP National Convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The AAP central leadership has dubbed the event as an “anti-party” activity.
With its Punjab unit facing a crisis, the AAP on Tuesday blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bains brothers for trying to split the party.
The AAP central leadership had picked up Dalit leader Harpal Singh Cheema as leader of the Opposition after Khaira’s removal.
The AAP became the main opposition in Punjab Assembly after the elections in March last year, winning 20 seats in the 117-member 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.