National
Some people doing drama over venue booking cancellations: Mamata (Lead)
Kolkata, Sep 7 (IANS) A day after the BJP alleged that a state-owned indoor stadium where its President Amit Shah was scheduled to attend a programme next week had cancelled their booking, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday slammed the party, accusing it of deliberately trying to stir up a controversy.
Contending that even the state government did not get access to the Netaji Indoor Stadium for their own meeting on Thursday which was held at Nazrul Mancha instead, she, without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said: “Some people are doing a drama… they love to spread canards and indulge in mudslinging on every single point.”
“They are deliberately booking on the day it’s already been taken. They are cribbing about it and saying ‘I did not get the hall’. Then let me also cry that ‘I did not get Netaji Indoor (Stadium)’. Does this behaviour suit anyone? It doesn’t.”
Shah will be in the city on a three day visit from September 11-13.
State BJP General Secretary Sayantan Basu had said on Wednesday: “Netaji Indoor stadium authorities had accepted our booking. We had event sent a letter to them and it was taken then. But on August 30 when we sent our people to check on the booking, we were told that the stadium was booked for the entire month, except for the Durga Puja days between September 26-30.”
The development comes close on the heels after authorities at state-run auditorium Mahajati Sadan cancelled the booking for an October 3 programme which RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was scheduled to attend.
Stressing on adherence to ethics, Banerjee said even she, despite her position and the privileges that come with it, adjusted her events, depending on availability of particular venues.
“I was told this venue is not spacious enough to accommodate so many people. We had wanted to organise the meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium but since it was already booked for the day by others…. I maintain some ethics,” she said while addressing state government employees’ federation meeting.
“How can I cancel a booking for a programme on day at the venue which has been booked in advance by others? If the programme is continuous one which runs for days, and if I cancel booking for a day… the how will they do the event? I myself did not get Netaji Indoor Stadium. Why should I violate the law,” she asked.
“I have shifted my programme to a smaller venue instead. Many people had to sit on the floor… we couldn’t invite many. This inconvenience had to be faced because we could not get the booking at Netaji Indoor Stadium.
“Due to obligation and timing we had to adjust… if we can adjust our programme (others can also do the same). Some people are crying foul about it and are saying the state government is scared…. why would I be scared,” she added.
At the meeting, Banerjee announced an enhancement of 15 per cent in dearness allowance for state government employees from next January and assured that the arrears would be cleared by 2019.
She said the increased allowance would cost the exchequer about Rs 4,500 crore.
–IANS
sgh/vd
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.