National
Kashmir Sikh group protests Granth Sahib’s alleged desecration
Srinagar: A Sikh group in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday burnt effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest the alleged desecration of their holy scripture in neighbouring Punjab and sought action against the culprits.
Nearly two dozen activists of Sikh group, Gurmat Taksal J&K, demonstrated here while condemning the incident which they termed as “painful and provoking”.
“It has now become a routine that pages of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture) are torn and desecrated. We, the Sikhs, can’t tolerate it now. If no action is taken against miscreants, responsible for such incidents, it will become a do or die situation for us,” Sukhbir Singh, head of Gurmat Taksal, said.
Two people died and many were injured on Wednesday when police opened fire on Sikh demonstrators in Punjab’s Faridkote district protesting the desecration of the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, revered as living guru by the Sikhs.
“Punjab government as well as the Centre have failed to expose and nab the culprits. It has hurt the sentiments of Sikhs,” Sukhbir Singh said.
He said recently ‘Saroop’ (embodiment) of Guru Granth Sahib was stolen. “These incidents have potential of creating communal unrest. We don’t want any disturbance. We are peace loving community but justice has to be done”, he added.
The protesters said the desecration is the handiwork of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and elements of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is part of coalition government in Punjab.
“RSS and some BJP people are hell-bent on communal flare-up in India. Minorities feel insecure today; it has raised questions over India’s democratic and pluralistic character,” they added.
The protesters raised pro-Khalistan, anti-BJP and anti-Punjab government slogans while burning the prime minister’s effigy.
As large number of police personnel reached the protest site, the protesters dispersed peacefully.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.