National
Congress moves EC for barring ‘tainted’ officials from Gujarat poll duty
Gandhinagar, Dec 6 (IANS) Three days ahead of the Gujarat first phase elections, the Congress party on Wednesday approached the Election Commission of India (EC) to bar some “tainted” officials, including two IPS officers allegedly involved in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, from conducting poll duty.
They said if the EC does not respond immediately, they will approach the court.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary, Dipak Babaria, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) General Secretary, Iqbal Sheikh, and GPCC legal cell chairman, Yogesh Ravani, approached the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Gujarat, to complain against three tainted officials who have been assigned poll duties during the upcoming assembly elections.
Asking that they be removed from poll duty, Babaria alleged that an IAS officer Mahendra Patel, promoted as Collector and District Magistrate (DM) Surat, has a “dubious” role as an official. Patel had made personal comments against Congress President Sonia Gandhi on his Facebook page. Patel was directly connected with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and had also sought BJP ticket from Unjha seat for the assembly elections, he said. “We ask the EC to not allow him to oversee the election process and he must be removed immediately to ensure free and fair elections,” said Babaria.
The GPCC has also sought that “tainted” official, Rajkumar Pandian (IPS), Range IG, Junagadh/Porbandar at present, also be removed from overseeing the poll process. Pandian was jailed in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case for several years. Earlier, he had been the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Porbandar. There is apprehension of “biased attitude and adverse effect” on the election process in the area.
They have sought that another “tainted” IPS official, Abhay Chudasam, posted as range IG, be removed from poll duty. Chudasam was also involved in the fake encounters of Sohrabuddin and Ishrat Jahan. He was jailed for several years for the same. His engagement in the election process is likely to prejudice the entire poll process and so he should be transferred from the duty immediately, they petitioned.
CEO, Gujarat, B.B. Swain has accepted the contention by the GPCC and forwarded it to the EC Delhi. The GPCC spokesperson said that if the EC does not respond immediately, they will approach the judiciary.
–IANS
amc/rn
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.