National
Tipu fest held in Karnataka amid protests, shutdowns (Lead)
Bengaluru, Nov 10 (IANS) Tipu Sultan Jayanti in honour of the 18th century Mysore ruler was held in Karnataka on Friday amidst mass protests, shutdowns and preventive arrests by the BJP and other right-wing organisations.
Tipu’s 267th birth anniversary was celebrated with special functions at his birth place in Devanahalli village on Bengaluru’s outskirts and in cities and towns that were part of his kingdom in the Deccan region.
In the state capital, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the event titled “Hazarath Tipu Sultan Jayanthi” at Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, in the presence of dignitaries.
The ruling Congress began celebrating the birth anniversary of the 18th century Mysore ruler on November 10 since 2015 to honour him as a patriot and remember his service to the people in the region.
However the Bharatiya Janata Party and various right-wing organisation are against the festival, as Tipu is perceived to have been anti-Hindu and alleged to have forcibly converted hundreds of Hindus during his reign in the last decade of the 18th century.
BJP lawmakers from Madikeri, Appachu Ranjan and Sunil Subramani were among the detained when they attempted to take out a protest rally, waving black against the ruling Congress for celebrating the birth anniversary of a tyrant.
Protests were held at several other places too despite police banning them.
“About 300 activists of the BJP and right wing organisations were arrested at Ballari, Madikeri, Mysuru, Mangaluru and Kalaburgi for defying the ban order enforced to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival,” Karnataka Additional Director of Police, Law & Order, Kamal Pant told reporters here.
Kodagu district, especially Madikeri town, 270 km from Bengaluru, was shut down, as shops, hotels, markets and offices remained closed and buses stopped playing since 9 a.m. after a state-run transport bus was damaged in a stone-throwing incident.
Vehicular movement, including that of inter-state and intra-state buses and trucks, was also affected in the Mysuru region due to fear of attacks by protesters.
To prevent a repeat of violent protests that claimed one life in 2015, police had imposed prohibitory orders in Madikeri.
Security was tightened with the deployment of additional forces, including paramilitary troopers in Bengaluru, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysuru and Mangaluru to prevent untoward incidents and disruption of normal life.
About 200 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, city armed police and 6,000 Home Guards were posted in sensitive areas till Saturday morning.
Eldest son of Sultan Hyder Ali, Tipu (1750-1799) is also hailed as the “Tiger of Mysore” for fighting against the British East India Company to protect and enlarge his kingdom. He was killed in a battle with the British Army in 1799 while defending his fort at Srirangapatnam near Mysuru, about 120 km from Bengaluru.
–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.