National
BJP, Congress spar over Sardar Patel’s legacy
New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Sardar Patel’s 142nd birth anniversary on Tuesday saw the Congress and BJP again sparring over his legacy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the Congress of sidelining Patel while the party quoted Patel’s remarks against the RSS following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
Flagging off the ‘Run for Unity’ in New Delhi to commemorate Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary, Modi said: “People earlier tried their best to ensure that the contribution of Sardar Patel was forgotten and diminished.”
“But when the nation gave us a chance to serve it, we made it a point to celebrate Sardar Patel’s legacy in a special way so that his works and contributions are remembered by generations after generations,” Modi added.
The Congress, while remembering Patel, quoted his remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the wake of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination by Nathuram Godse, who was a former active RSS member and known to be close to RSS ideologue V.D. Savarkar.
The Congress tweeted a picture of Patel and his remarks against RSS: “The speeches of the Sangh (RSS) leaders are poisonous. It is as a result of this venom that Mahatma Gandhi has been assassinated.”
Patel, as the then Home Minister, had banned the RSS after Gandhi’s assassination.
“Remembering Iron Leader Sardar Patel, whose uncompromising efforts were instrumental in keeping India united after Independence,” the Congress tweeted on its official handle.
In another tweet, the Congress quoted Patel’s another remark he made after Gandhi’s death: “The activities of RSS constituted a clear threat to the existence of the government and state.”
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, in his tribute to Patel said: “An embodiment of integrity and strength, Sardar Patel was one of the architects of the Idea of India. My tributes to him on his birth anniversary.”
Patel’s birthday, October 31, also happens to be the day when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her bodyguards.
The Congress observed the day with large advertisements in newspapers and the top party brass paid floral tributes to Indira Gandhi at her memorial and her samadhi known as Shakti Sthal.
On Tuesday, in his address before flagging off the run, Modi did mention that October 31 is also the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi, but did not elaborate.
Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Independent India, is also called ‘The Iron Man of India’ for his grit and resolve. He played a key role in merging hundreds of small princely states into the Union of India after the British left.
–IANS
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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.