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Badal questioned by SIT on sacrilege, firing incidents
Chandigarh, Nov 16 (IANS) Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was on Friday questioned by a Special Investigation Team of Punjab Police which is investigating incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and the subsequent firing on protesters in 2015.
The SIT, headed by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Pramod Kumar and Inspector General Kunwar Vijay Pratap, questioned Badal as a witness at his MLA flat in Sector 4, Chandigarh.
Badal later told media that he answered all questions put to him by the SIT officers.
He said he told the SIT that he had not ordered firing on Sikh protesters agitating against the sacrilege incidents in October 2015.
“I have told the SIT everything. I did not order the firing,” Badal, who is over 90 years old, told media after his questioning.
“I think they were fully satisfied with my replies. But the result will be known after they give their report. That I know (what will come in the report). They want to turn us from witness to accused,” Badal said, adding that the report will be “what chief minister Amarinder Singh wants.”
Badal earlier objected to only the SIT member, IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap, coming to question him. Badal spoke to ADGP Pramod Kumar who arrived at his (Badal’s) residence within minutes and the SIT started the questioning.
“I have been head of the state. Can you not come yourself (to question me). If you cannot come, I will come to you,” Badal told ADGP Kumar amid high drama in front of the media, forcing ADGP to arrive there immediately.
The Akali Dal had earlier objected to Kunwar Vijay Pratap being part of the SIT.
Senior Akali Dal leaders, including Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the son of Badal senior, and MPs, were present at the residence of Badal senior beore the SIT arrived for questioning.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had said earlier that his government had no role in the summoning of the former Chief Minister (Parkash Singh Badal), former deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and actor Akshay Kumar by the SIT.
The SIT was set up by the Amarinder government in September this year to probe cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and the firing ordered on those protesting the sacrilege cases in October 2015 when the Akali Dal-BJP alliance government headed by Parkash Singh Badal was in power in the state.
Two persons were killed in the police firing in Behbal Kalan village near Kotkapura town in Faridkot district.
–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.