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Obama cites India in call to correct distorted impression of Muslims
Washington: Acknowledging that many in the US have a distorted impression of Muslims, US President Barack Obama has cited the good work by Muslims around the world, including India, with one of the world’s largest Muslim populations.
A part of the challenge in fighting the scourge of terrorism, he said was to correct the distortion as “A lot of the bad, like terrorists who claim to speak for Islam, that’s absorbed by the general population. Not enough of the good.”
Obama was speaking on the final day Thursday of a three-day White House summit to counter violent extremism at the State Department attended by over 60 countries, including India. The Indian delegation is headed by R.N. Ravi, Chairman of India’s Joint Intelligence Committee.
“A painful truth that’s part of the challenge that brings us here today,” Obama said was that “in some of our countries, including the United States,” many people get “a very distorted impression” of the Muslims.
“So we have to remember these Muslim men and women, the young Palestinians working to build understanding and trust with Israelis, but also trying to give voice to her people’s aspirations,” he said.
“Business leaders in India, with one of the world’s largest Muslim populations. Entrepreneurs unleashing new innovations in places like Malaysia. Health workers fighting to save lives from polio and from Ebola in West Africa,” Obama continued.
“We speak different languages, born of different races and ethnic groups, belong to different religions,” he said.
“We are here today because we are united against the scourge of violent extremism and terrorism.”
Outlining his vision to confront violent extremism, Obama called for remaining unwavering in fight against terrorist organizations, building democracy, breaking cycles of sectarian conflict and changing the perception of religious minorities and Muslims.
The President said the world has to confront the warped ideologies espoused by terrorists like Al Qaeda and Islamic State terror group in Iraq and Libya (ISIL), especially their attempt to use Islam to justify their violence.
“These terrorists are desperate for legitimacy,” he said. “And all of us have a responsibility to refute the notion that groups like ISIL somehow represent Islam, because that is a falsehood that embraces the terrorist narrative.”
Muslim communities too have a responsibility to push back, he said, “not just on twisted interpretations of Islam, but also on the lie that we are somehow engaged in a clash of civilizations; that America and the West are somehow at war with Islam.”
“The notion that the West is at war with Islam is an ugly lie,” Obama said. “And all of us, regardless of our faith, have a responsibility to reject it.”
“Groups like Al Qaeda and ISIL peddle the lie that some of our countries are hostile to Muslims,” he said calling “for more dialogues across countries and cultures.”
“But what’s most needed today, perhaps, are more dialogues within countries-not just across faiths, but also within faiths,” he said as “Terrorists traffic in lies and stereotypes about others-other religions, other ethnic groups.”
The summit concluded with the setting up of eight work-streams including one for “identifying and funding political and economic opportunities for communities that are vulnerable to radicalization and recruitment to violence.”
The participants will meet again in September in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly to share progress achieved and announce strategies and concrete programs and initiatives aimed at addressing the drivers of violent extremism.
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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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