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Spain asks Catalonia: Did you declare independence or not? (Third Lead)
Madrid, Oct 11 (IANS) Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday asked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to clarify whether he has actually declared independence as Madrid considers the unprecedented step of suspending the region’s autonomy.
Rajoy held a press conference following an emergency cabinet meeting convened the morning after Catalan President Carles Puigdemont told his Parliament that “Catalonia had won the right to become independent” but that he would “suspend an official declaration for some weeks” to allow for talks with Madrid.
Rajoy accused Puigdemont of creating “deliberate confusion” and said that the Spanish government needed to know whether or not he had declared the northeastern region independent from Spain, BBC reported.
The Spanish Prime Minister said his government would base its response on the answer it was given, including any measures it might take invoking a constitutional clause allowing for direct rule.
Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution would allow Rajoy to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy and impose direct rule from Madrid.
“This call — ahead of any of the measures that the government may adopt under Article 155 of our Constitution — seeks to offer citizens the clarity and security that a question of such importance requires,” Rajoy said.
Rajoy said the ball was now firmly back in Puigdemont’s court. “The Catalan President’s answer to these questions will inform what happens over the next few days,” he said.
“If Puigdemont demonstrates a willingness to respect the law and re-establish institutional normality, we could bring a close to a period of instability tension, and the breakdown of co-existence.
“We must put an urgent end to the situation in Catalonia. There must be a return to normality and calm as swiftly as possible.”
Rajoy will address Parliament later in the day and would be the first Spanish Prime Minister to take the drastic step of invoking 155, the Guardian reported.
Spain has been in turmoil since a disputed referendum in Catalonia on October 1 was declared invalid by the country’s Constitutional Court.
Addressing the Catalan Parliament in Barcelona on Tuesday evening, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said: “We call on international states and organisations to recognise the Catalan republic as an independent and sovereign state.”
He said the “people’s will” was to break away from Madrid, but he also said he wanted to “de-escalate” the tension around the issue. Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but halted its implementation to allow negotiations.
However, the Spanish government rejected his calls for mediation.
Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria described Puigdemont as someone “who does not know where he is, where he’s going”.
About 90 per cent of participants voted in favour of splitting from Spain in the referendum. But it was marred by violence after Spanish police acting on court orders attempted to stop the vote by raiding polling stations, seizing ballot boxes, beating voters and firing rubber bullets at crowds.
Ahead of Puigdemont’s address on Tuesday, influential figures including Barcelona’s Mayor Ada Colau and European Council President Donald Tusk had urged him to step back from declaring independence.
The European Union made it clear that if Catalonia split from Spain, the region would cease to be part of the EU.
–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.
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