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Jaitley takes `clown prince’ jibe at Rahul, counters him over Rafale offset (Lead)
New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday again called Congress President Rahul Gandhi a “clown prince” and countered him over the Rafale fighter jet deal, saying that Dassault Aviation has said that only three per cent of offset may come to the business house being named by Congress leaders.
Jaitley also dismissed the charge that he had met absconding scamster Nirav Modi and targeted Gandhi for “building false narratives” on different issues.
Giving a point-by-point rebuttal to Gandhi’s charges against the Modi government, Jaitley wondered if the Congress chief telling “lies” was a “personality issue”.
“I do not recollect ever having even seen Nirav Modi in my life. The question of his meeting me in Parliament does not arise. If he came to Parliament, as Rahul Gandhi claims, then the reception records will show that. Where have I admitted all this Mr Gandhi?” asked Jaitley.
He also posted a video clip of Gandhi’s Monday addresses in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh where the Congress chief alleged that absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi had met Jaitley before fleeing the country.
The BJP leader also dismissed as “absolute lie” Gandhi’s assertions that Mallya had informed the Finance Minister of his plan to escape to London.
Countering the Congress charges relating to a private entity becoming an offset partner in the Rafale deal, Jaitley wrote: “The Rafale aircraft and its weaponry is not being manufactured in India at all, neither by Dassault nor by any private company. All 36 aircraft along with weaponry will arrive in India in a ready-to-fly condition,” he said.
The minister said that after the supplies begin, Dassault has to make purchases in India for 50 per cent of the contract value.
“These supplies to Dassault are to be made by over 120 offset suppliers and the business house named is one of them. Dassault has said that only 3 per cent of offset may come to that business house, which is less than Rs 1,000 crore,” Jaitley said in an apparent reference to Reliance Defence.
Dismissing Gandhi’s allegations that the Goods and Services Tax was flawed, Jaitley claimed the successful implementation of the new tax regime had enabled India become one market.
“If the factual narrative does not suit him, then concoct an alternative. Repeat the false narrative a dozen times and convince yourself that falsehood is in fact the truth. Thereafter, you can comfortably live in self-delusion.
“Today, I feel it is much more than hallucination. Is it a personality issue where he lies a dozen times and then in self-delusion believes it to be true or is it a case of a clown prince out-clowning himself,” said Jaitley, who in his earlier blog too had called Gandhi a “clown prince”.
–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.