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Democratic memo released by US House Intelligence Committee
Washington, Feb 6 (IANS) A congressional panel has voted unanimously to release a Democratic rebuttal to a Republican memo alleging bias against US President Donald Trump.
The Republican president has five days to decide whether to declassify the 10-page document.
The House Intelligence Committee released the Democratic memo on Monday. It highlights flaws in the Republican one, BBC reported.
The Republican document claimed the FBI abused its power by investigating a Trump adviser.
Adam Schiff, who wrote the second memo, welcomed Monday’s vote by the Republican-controlled committee on which he is the top-ranking Democrat. The panel had previously blocked release of his document.
Republicans, he said, had “found themselves in an insupportable position when they released a misleading memo and refused to release the Democratic response, so I think they were compelled to take the action they did today”.
The California congressman said it would be “very hard” for the Trump administration now to block its release.
The four-page document centres on court-approved wiretapping of Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, who was placed under electronic surveillance by the FBI.
The memo accuses the FBI and justice department of using an unsubstantiated dossier to obtain a court’s permission in October 2016 to eavesdrop on Page.
The so-called Steele dossier was compiled in an attempt to dig up dirt on Trump, partly funded by the campaign of his rival, Hillary Clinton.
The Republican memo says the dossier’s author, former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, told a senior justice department official he was “desperate” for Mr Trump to lose the White House race.
The memo says all this represents “a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses”.
The memo was top secret, but was approved for release by the House Intelligence Committee a week ago and by Trump on Friday.
The Democratic memo goes to the White House on Monday night, and the president has until Friday to formally declassify it.
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer has written to Trump saying it was a matter of “fundamental fairness” that the president approve the declassification of the memo.
Schumer urged the president to demonstrate the Republican memo was not a ruse to discredit the ongoing justice department inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The senator’s letter said if the Democratic memo is not released it “will confirm the American people’s worst fears”.
Schumer argued “that the American people be allowed to see both sides of the argument and make their own judgements”.
–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.