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Rahul slams BJP for offering money to Meghalaya churches

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Jowai (Meghalaya), Jan 30 (IANS) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at the BJP-led NDA government for offering money to churches in Congress-ruled Meghalaya ahead of the assembly elections.

“You will find the BJP has a lot of money. These days their leadership believes that everything can be bought,” he said drumming up support for his party candidates in the seven assembly constituencies in Jaintia Hills district.

“I am very sad to hear that the BJP offered money to our churches in what I consider to be a huge sum…,” said Gandhi, who travelled 60 km to Jowai, the district headquarters of Jaintia Hills.

The Congress President is scheduled to meet Church leaders of various Christian denominations over breakfast on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, state Congress President Celestine Lyngdoh, Lok Sabha member Vincent H. Pala and others accompanied the party leader.

On January 7, Union Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons announced a tourism package of Rs 70 crore to develop religious and spiritual circuits in the state.

But the Presbyterian Church and Catholic Church, besides the opposition Hill State People’s Democratic Party, raised their eyebrows on the offer.

Election to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly will be held on February 27.

“There is no price, there is no amount of money that can buy the people of Meghalaya. The BJP may buy a few leaders here and there as few leaders may defect to the BJP or their proxy the NPP (National People’s Party),” the Congress President said.

Five former Congress legislators — Rowell Lyngdoh, Prestone Tynsong, Coming One Ymbon, Sniawbhalang Dhar and Ngaitlang Dhar — had defected to the NPP founded by former Lok Sabha Speaker late Purno A. Sangma.

Another Congress legislator Alexander Hek, who was a Health and Family Welfare Minister in Mukul Sangma-led government until he was sacked last year, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Stressing that neither the NPP nor the BJP can change the future of Meghalaya, Gandhi said: “A vote to NPP is like voting for the BJP, but they will not be able to change the future of Meghalaya.

“…I am here to tell you that the Congress is going to work together with our different cultures, ideas when everybody feels that they can express what is in their hearts and say what they want and happily live in india that embraces them.”

Noting that the Congress will defend the idea of Meghalaya, Gandhi told his party workers and supporters that “when we defend your culture we are defending the idea of Meghalaya and also the idea of plural and inclusive India that we love”.

Exhorting his party workers to work hard so as to ensure the victory of Congress candidates, Gandhi told the gathering about his relationship with northeast.

“My grandmother (Indira Gandhi) was fond of northeast, so was my father (Rajiv Gandhi) and I intend to come here often and spend a longer period with you and understand your culture and customs and understand deeply what Meghalaya is,” he said.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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.

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