National
BJP-led Goa government harassing our MLAs to poach them: Congress
Panaji, Sep 25 (IANS) The Goa unit of the Congress has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government is targeting its legislators “one by one” in order to pressurise them into joining the ruling fold.
“It is very clear that one by one, our MLAs are being targeted. This is a pressure tactic by the BJP, which wants to poach on some of our MLAs, by arm-twisting them. But what they want will not happen,” state Congress President Shantaram Naik told a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Panaji.
Naik’s comments came even as Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar, who is being probed in connection with an illegal gambling racket as well as for possession of disproportionate assets, filed for anticipatory bail at a court in Margao in South Goa, around 35 km from Panaji.
Kavlekar has already been raided five times in connection with the purchase of agricultural land in Kerala worth Rs 4.78 crore, which the Goa Police’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has claimed was purchased from the ill-gotten wealth, disproportionate to the Congress leader’s income.
However, Kavlekar has rejected the ACB charge, claiming that his business dealings were “above-board”.
The disproportionate assets probe started in 2013, but an FIR was filed only last week.
Kavlekar last week was also summoned by the Crime Branch after thousands of slips of illegal gambling (matka) receipts were found at his residence.
Earlier this month, Imran Khan, a close aide of former Chief Minister and Congress MLA Digambar Kamat, was also booked by the Goa Police Special Investigation Team, in connection with estimated Rs 35,000-crore illegal mining scam.
Naik has called the police action “politically motivated”.
“Why is only Kavlekar being targeted? Why are raids not being conducted on BJP leaders who are known to be matka dealers,” Naik asked, adding that matka operators were also campaigning for the BJP in the recently concluded by-elections.
Matka is an illegal form of gambling that has gained immense popularity in Mumbai and Konkan region since the 1970s. It functions six days a week, virtually like a lottery, where lucky numbers are generated thrice every day.
–IANS
maya/nir/dg
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.