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Lord Ram at centre of yet another BJP-SP flashpoint

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Lucknow: Lord Ram is once again at the centre of a flashpoint between the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh.

Daggers drawn over the past two decades on the Ram Janmabhoomi imbroglio, the two parties are now set to fight it out on a new issue: the stopping of the Ram Katha recital, along with the the longest-running Ram Leela show in Ayodhya, due to paucity of funds.

The Ram Katha and Ram Leela have been playing without a single day’s recess, but for a few days in 2013, for the last 11 years. It has now been halted as the state culture department has allegedly not issued the necessary funds. Organized by the Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan, an autonomous arm of the Uttar Pradesh culture department, the Ram Katha and Ram Leela were stopped briefly in 2013 after the funds meant for the event were diverted to the Saifai Mahotsava held at Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s native village.

Ironically, the event was started on May 20, 2004, when Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. It has been stopped since Monday, an official said, adding that it has “not been completely done away with but temporarily halted”.

Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan manager Avinash Kumar said the Ram Katha has been put on hold. He, however, did not ascribe any reasons, angering the Ayodhya community of saints, who have threatened to launch an indefinite agitation if it is not revived.

“This is not only completely unacceptable but also a decision that hurts the sentiments of the Hindu community,” said an angry Vijay Bahadur Pathak, the state BJP spokesman, adding that the party will take up the issue in a big way if the decision is not reversed.

The institute gets Rs 2.73 crore every year from the state, the funds also being utilised for activities like publishing and research, apart from enacting the Ram Katha and the Ram Leela, which is witnessed by hundreds of the devout every evening.

In the past, Ram Leela has been staged in over 55 styles by some 150 troupes from all over the country, as also from the Maldives and Indonesia. Tourists from almost 17 countries have witnessed the play here. The feat has also been commended by Unesco, which has termed the Ram Leela a commendable effort to preserve an intangible heritage.

State government officials refused to comment on the issue, saying they would have to check back from their superiors. One official went a step further, claiming that that state government’s intention was not to do something deliberately!

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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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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