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There was no Catalan referendum, says Spain’s PM
Madrid, Oct 2 (IANS) Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Sunday spoke following the banned Catalan independence referendum on a day marked by violence which the Catalonia regional government said left 761 people injured.
Rajoy said he wanted to speak as “Prime Minister of Spain, a great nation,” adding that in the face of a vote which had been deemed illegal by the Spanish Constitutional Court that “my first obligation was to obey the law and to make sure it was obeyed,” Xinhua reported.
The Prime Minister said there was “was no referendum” and that “our state maintains its strength and reacts and acts with all its resources against any kind of provocation.”
Despite the number of injured, Rajoy insisted the security forces had acted with “firmness and serenity.”
He said the referendum had produced “attitudes that should be repugnant to anyone who believes in democracy,” and blamed Catalan leaders for the violence.
“I want to make it clear that the only people who are responsible are those who have venerated the law,” said Rajoy, who insisted his government had “done what we had to do.”
“We are the government of Spain and I am the Prime Minister of Spain. We acted with the law and only with the law and showed our democratic state has the resources to react to this attack on our unity.”
Sociality Party leader Pedro Sanchez blamed both Rajoy and Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont for what he described as a “sad day for democracy”. Sanchez said the images of the police baton charges and the injured “cannot please any democrat” and made his “disapproval of the police charges.”
Podemos leader Pable Iglesias meanwhile was strongly critical of Rajoy accusing him and his Peoples Party of “doing irreparable damage; not just to Catalonia, but also to Spain.”
Iglesias also strongly criticized the use of rubber bullets by police in a region where they had been banned since 2012.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.