National
Smriti Irani targets Meghalaya Minister over sex scandal
Dalu (Meghalaya), Feb 17 (IANS) Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday hit out at Meghalaya Home Minister Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh over the alleged gang-rape of a minor girl in his son’s guest-house.
Four people reportedly raped the 14-year-old girl at the Marvelene’s Inn, the guest house run by Lyngdoh’s son Nathaniel Osbert Rymmai.
“The job of a Home Minister is to protect women and children, but in Meghalaya it is a reverse. It is sad and shocking that in Meghalaya, where women are held in high esteem, such an incident has taken place,” she said, addressing an election rally here near the India-Bangladesh border.
Irani was campaigning for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kurosh R. Marak, who is contesting from Dalu constituency in West Garo Hills district. Marak is also a sitting member of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.
“Meghalaya has a unique culture and tradition and the confidence of women and children is fascinating. Our party believes in empowering women and we will be able to drive the agenda in Meghalaya to further their cause.”
Wooing the 9,29,314 women electorate to vote in favour of the BJP, Irani promised that if her party was voted to power, a dedicated women police force would be in place to ensure security of women.
“The pride of women has to be restored and we will ensure that women in Meghalaya feel safe, secure and independent,” she said.
Striking a cord with women electorate in Meghalaya’s Dalu and Zikzak in Garo hills, she tried to instill hope and reiterated the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure free gas cylinders to poor household.
“Women in India work tirelessly cooking food on traditional ‘chula’ to bring smile on their children’s face. So, Modi decided to provide gas cylinder to poor women to ease their problem,” Irani said.
Accusing the Congress-led state government of failing in its responsibilities for 50 years, which “Modi made possible in three years”, she said: “In absence of proper healthcare facilities, our people have to avail treatment in neighbouring Bangladesh.
“This is a blot on Congress government that they have not been able to provide healthcare services to its people. Modi has subsidised the rate of crucial medicines, but Mukul Sangma (Chief Minister) has failed to provide those medicines to the people of Meghalaya.”
The BJP, which failed to win a single seat in the 2013 assembly elections, has fielded its candidates in 47 out of 60 seats. Among the party’s contestants are four former legislators of the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya Alliance.
Elections in the state are due on February 27 and the counting March 3.
–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.