National
BJP, Congress welcome single-phase Karnataka polls, JD-S terms it setback
Bengaluru, March 27 (IANS) The ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka on Tuesday welcomed the single-phase Assembly polls on May 12, while regional party Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) termed it a setback.
“The JD-S had requested the Election Commission (EC) to conduct the polls in two or three phases, as we are a regional party with limited number of campaign leaders.
“It is very difficult for us as a regional party. Single-phase polls is a setback for us,” JD-S state spokesman Ramesh Babu told IANS here.
Single-phase polling for the 15th 225-member Assembly will be held on May 12 and the votes counted on May 15, the EC announced on Tuesday.
BJP President Amit Shah, who is on a two-day tour in central Karnataka, expressed confidence over a poll victory.
“The BJP welcomes the poll announcement. We are confident that we will form the next government in Karnataka under the leadership of (BJP state President) B.S. Yeddyurappa,” Shah told the media in Davanagere, about 260km northwest from here in Davanagere district.
Congress state unit chief G. Parameshwara said the party was election-ready.
“The Congress welcomes the EC’s (poll) announcement… we are election ready,” tweeted Parameshwara.
The JD-S spokesman ruled out any pre-poll tie-up of the party with the BJP or the Congress.
“The JD-S is very clear in the matter (over alliance with other parties) that it wants to maintain equidistance from both the BJP and Congress,” Babu said.
“Both parties are two sides of the same coin, not caring about the people and farmers of Karnataka,” he said.
In the 225-member Assembly, including one nominated, there are currently 122 members from the ruling Congress, 43 from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 30 from the Janata Dal-Secular, eight Independents, 14 vacant seats, with a few others from regional parties.
Of the 224 Assembly constituencies, 36 are reserved for the Scheduled Castes and 15 for the Scheduled Tribes.
A total of 4.96 crore electors have been registered in the southern state with the poll panel so far.
–IANS
bha/tsb/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.