National
Modi government must bring white paper on Rafale: Swaraj India
New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Swaraj India on Wednesday raised various questions on the Rafale fighter aircraft deal and demanded a white paper on it.
The party said in a statement that its senior leader and noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan and its national President Yogendra Yadav earlier on October,20, 2016 had exposed the alleged dealings in Rafale, terming it a “bigger scam than the Bofors”.
The party accused the government of “keeping the country in the dark” over the “dubious” deal for purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets.
Firing salvos at the Prime Minister, the party asked, “Who decided that India needs only 36 aircraft in Rs 58,000 crore and not 126 in Rs 54,000 crore, as was decided earlier by the union cabinet? Why was a three fold high rate of aircraft finalised, that too after scrapping the earlier deal without due process or cabinet consultation?”
“Why was public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and the very clause of “Transfer of Technology” removed by Mr. Modi?,” the statement said.
“The Prime Minister even overturned the government’s decisions without any due process, cabinet consultation or even the involvement of his defence minister. When Modi finalised the deal in 2015 it was presented as a quick emergency measure on the pretext of immediate need for fighter jets. But today, even after three years have passed, we still don’t have the aircraft. The sense of urgency is now no more to be seen,” it said.
“Bofors was a Rs 64 crore scam while the amount here at stake in Rafale is Rs 58,000 crore. If the Modi government really wants to clear the air of suspicion, it should immediately come up with a white paper on Rafale deal and stop hiding behind secrecy clauses which actually do not apply to pricing of an international deal or the tender processes,” Swaraj India said.
–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.