National
UDF legislator George resigns from Kerala assembly
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s ruling United Democratic Front’s estranged legislator P.C. George on Thursday submitted his resignation from the assembly to Speaker N. Sakthan.
George, 65, a six-time legislator, is currently suspended from the Kerala Congress (Mani) for his constant attack on party supremo and now former state Finance Minister K.M. Mani.
Accepting the handwritten letter from George, Sakthan said he will look into the rules and then take a decision.
The Kerala Congress (Mani) is the third biggest ally of the Congress-led Oommen Chandy government and has nine legislators.
His resignation comes at a time when George is facing the heat as the case for getting him disqualified is currently on and the speaker is to give his ruling on Friday.
George, who hails from the rubber plantation area of Poonjar in Kottayam district, began his political career through the student movement in the early 1970s.
He became a legislator for the first time in 1980 and again won when the assembly elections were held two years later after the government fell. He lost the 1987 polls and did not contest the 1992 elections.
Since 1996, George has never lost from the Poonjar assembly constituency.
For close to four decades, George had an intense rivalry with Mani. In 2010, the two ended their acrimony, but things changed this year and George began his attacks on Mani.
From 1980 till 2003, George was a member of the Kerala Congress (Joseph) until he was ousted by his party chairman and now State Water Resources Minister P.J. Joseph.
In 2003, he formed his own party Kerala Congress (Secular) and contested the 2006 polls as an ally of the Left Democratic Front. Mid-way, he shifted to the UDF camp and in 2010 merged his party with Kerala Congress (Mani).
“Now I will be joining my old party that has already been reactivated and we will work with the Left opposition,” said George.
Kerala Congress (Secular) came out successful in 32 divisions in last week’s civic polls and was an ally of the Left in the election.
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.