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Chandrababu returns to his ‘brainchild’ Cyberabad to prove a point
By Mohammed Shafeeq
Hyderabad, Nov 29 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, credited for developing the IT sector in Hyderabad, returned to the tech hub, this time to campaign for his Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Naidu, who spent almost his entire political life here, turned emotional as he hit the roads around Cyberabad, the IT district which took shape during his nine-year stint as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Campaigning for ‘People’s Front’ candidates for a second consecutive day on Thursday, he conducted road shows in constituencies in and around the city, projecting himself as the architect of modern Telangana. He termed Cyberabad as his brainchild.
“Who built Cyberabad? Who brought Microsoft to Hyderabad? Is it not me?” he asked the crowd at every meeting he addressed. He recalled how he placed the city on the world IT map by bringing in global giants and creating world-class infrastructure.
“Who built the international airport? Who built 165-km long world-class outer Ring Road?” he asked amid loud cheers from the crowd.
In the 2014 elections held in the aftermath of Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation, the TDP had an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It bagged 15 seats out of the 26 it contested in the 119-member Assembly.
This time, Naidu has joined hands with the Congress to contest 13 seats. “My party people wanted more seats. I told them the number of seats is not important, winning is important,” he told a select group of journalists on Thursday.
TDP is part of Congress-led ‘People’s Front’, which also has the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) as its other constituents.
Naidu, whose party lost almost all its legislators elected in 2014 to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the last four years, is out to prove a point – that there is no space in Hyderabad for TDP, a party which the TRS dubs an ‘Andhra party’.
“I am a citizen of this country. Don’t I have a right to come to Telangana?” asked the TDP chief on TRS’ jibe that what work he had in Telangana.
“I have not come here to become the Chief Minister. I can’t become. This is a reality,” said Naidu, who also dismissed TRS’ allegation that if ‘People’s Front’ came to power in Telangana, Naidu would work against the state’s interests.
“I have always worked for the development and welfare of Telangana. This is a region dear to my heart,” said the TDP leader, who believes that Hyderabad with the ecosystem he built had the potential to become a key global destination.
Though currently focused on developing Andhra Pradesh’s new capital Amaravati, Naidu is keen to see Hyderabad cash in on its geographical advantage and talented human resources to realize its true potential.
“Can a lower riparian state stall the projects,” was his counter to TRS allegation that he was creating hurdles for irrigation projects in Telangana.
–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.