National
Haryana to withdraw FIRs against 822 Jat agitationists
Chandigarh, Feb 7 (IANS) Under pressure from the politically dominant Jat community, the BJP government in Haryana has decided to withdraw criminal cases against 822 people who were booked for violence in the state during the Jat agitation for reservation in February 2016.
The state government has approved the withdrawal of 70 FIRs which had been registered during the large-scale violence during the Jat agitation, a senior officer said on Wednesday.
With this, the Haryana government has so far ordered the withdrawal of 223 cases registered against 2,027 people.
Over 30 people lost their lives, more than 260 were injured and property and assets worth hundreds of crores were damaged during the agitation-related violence that brought the state to a standstill for nearly a fortnight.
The orders to withdraw the cases from the concerned courts were issued on Tuesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) S.S. Prasad told media here.
Sources said that the move has been made by the Manohar Lal Khattar government as Jat leaders had threatened to protest against the visit of BJP National President Amit Shah in Haryana on February 15.
All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) President Yashpal Malik had threatened to disrupt the motorcycle rally of the BJP president in Jind on February 15.
With political speculation rife that the BJP government may go in for early assembly polls in the state along with the Lok Sabha polls, the move to withdraw the cases is being linked to it so that the BJP can appease the Jat community.
“822 people were accused in the 70 FIRs registered in 11 districts. In December, a similar direction was issued for (withdrawal of) 15 cases in which 47 people were accused. Similar instructions were earlier also given in connection with 138 cases, in which 1,158 people were accused,” Prasad said.
“While applications have been put up before courts for which orders were issued earlier, but in connection with 70 FIRs in which 822 people are accused, these orders were issued yesterday (Tuesday),” he said.
He pointed out that no case, pertaining to heinous crimes like murder, was being withdrawn.
Prasad said that the cases have been withdrawn after getting them examined at the district level and getting reports from the concerned police and law officers.
The final decision on actually withdrawing the cases against the agitationists lies with the respective courts, Prasad said.
Most of these cases pertain to rioting, unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint and obstructing a public official from discharging duty.
The AIJASS has demanded that all cases registered during the agitation should be withdrawn.
–IANS
js/qd/bg
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.