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‘Ghar wapsi, nun gang rape affected Goa panchayat polls result’
Panaji: Ghar wapsi (homecoming), slander against Mother Teresa, attacks on minority institutions and the gang rape of a nun in West Bengal, could have resulted in the BJP-led ruling coalition performing below par in the Goa zilla panchayat polls, the convenor of a ruling coalition partner has claimed.
Mickky Pacheco, convenor, Goa Vikas Party (GVP), one of the two parties which the BJP joined hands with for the polls, claimed without taking names that certain “religious leaders” canvassed against the BJP, which led to the coalition barely scraping through in the South Goa zilla panchayat and falling one short of victory in North Goa.
“These issues were prominent. Ghar wapsi, the gang rape of a nun, the manner in which Mother Teresa’s image was attacked and other incidents played on the minds of voters and the opposition exploited it,” Pacheco told on Friday, after his party won only two seats in South Goa where the Catholic vote was crucial.
Catholics account for 26 percent of the state’s population.
Pacheco, minister for archives and archaeology in the Goa cabinet, said some religious leaders also issued diktats against voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the party’s silence on “atrocities” against the minority community in several parts of India.
“I am going to discuss this with the BJP. But we will of course continue with the alliance because the GVP has a development agenda for Goa,” Pacheco.
Out of the two zilla panchayats, spread equally over 50 constituencies, the BJP and its coalition partners, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the GVP, narrowly scraped through in the South Goa zilla panchayat winning 13 of the 25 seats.
In North Goa, considered a bastion of the BJP, the ruling alliance won only 12 seats of 25 and will require the support of at least one Independent candidate to rule the North Goa zilla panchayat.
The Congress as well as the Nationalist Congress Party boycotted the polls after the BJP-led coalition government decided to hold elections on political party lines last month.
The lacklustre performance has also triggered dissent within the BJP with Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza on Friday blaming the party leadership for failing to deliver a clear victory.
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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.