National
Sonia hits back, says ‘not afraid’ of Agusta inquiry
New Delhi : Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday hit back at the BJP over its allegations against her on the AgustaWestland chopper deal, saying she was “not afraid” of any inquiry and there was nothing to hide.
An angry Sonia Gandhi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of character assassination.
“We have nothing to hide. Let them (government) take my name, I am not afraid of anyone because there is no base to that allegation. They amount to calumny. Where is the proof? They are lying. This is part of their (BJP’s) strategy of character assassination,” Gandhi told the media here.
She said any investigation must get over as soon as possible so that the facts are out. “The allegations are baseless. The truth will come out soon.”
She asked why the Narendra Modi government did not investigate the deal in the last two years since coming to power.
“All the accusations they are levelling at us are false. The government is there for last two years. What are they doing? The inquiry is there, why don’t they complete it. Complete it as soon as possible impartially. The truth will come out,” she added.
Congress leaders met in the morning to discuss their strategy in the wake of BJP deciding to step up its attack over the AgustaWestland issue. The party has denied Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegations.
The BJP had on Tuesday targetted Sonia Gandhi and the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government over the chopper deal following an Italian court’s judgment.
Italian group Finmeccanica’s former chief Giuseppe Orsi and AgustaWestland’s former head Bruno Spagnolini were sentenced by a Milan appeals court to different jail terms for false accounting and corruption in the sale of the firm’s 12 VVIP choppers to India.
While Orsi was given four-and-a-half years in jail, Spagnolini was awarded a four-year jail term.
Three of the helicopters were delivered to the Indian Air Force before the contract — signed in February 2010 — was cancelled.
The IAF had sought the AgustaWestland choppers as a replacement for its Mi-17 cargo helicopters that have been modified for VVIP deployment.
The Comptroller and Auditor General had made adverse comments, saying it was a waste of resources.
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.