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Rahul’s apology sought for ‘Shirdi’ dig at Goyal
New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed Railway Minister Piyush Goyal over a “haircut loan waiver of 65 per cent” to a company, Shirdi Industries Limited, associated with the minister in the past, and said “there is no limit of “Shirdi’s miracles”.
However, Chairman of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Suresh Haware, took umbrage at his remarks and said “to drag Shirdi in a political blame game is very painful” and demanded his apology.
“Friends – there is no limit of ‘Shirdi’s miracles’. #PiyushGhotalaReturns,” tweeted Gandhi attaching a news report.
The Congress on Tuesday said Goyal must be sacked and a judicial probe ordered by a Supreme Court judge into charges that a company owned by his wife earned a profit of Rs 30 crore on a paid-up capital of Rs 1 lakh in 10 years.
Reacting to Gandhi’s tweet, Haware said: “Rahulji, to drag Shirdi in a political blame game is very painful. The Sai bhakts in the country and abroad have been deeply hurt by this. On behalf of all Sai bhakts, we condemn this. You should apologise to Sai Bhakts for this insult.”
Reacting to this Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala clarified: “Rahul Gandhi holds the ‘Shirdi Trust’ and ‘Sai Baba’ as also every saint in great reverence.
“Unfortunately, the name of the company affiliated to Piyush Goel is ‘Shirdi Industries Ltd.’ I wish Shirdi Trust will now in hindsight take action and ban such people from using the name ‘Shirdi’ who use such pious name and then consequently malign by swindling away public money,” he added.
“I completely agree with his spirit and so does Rahul Gandhi, and the entire Congress party but the attribution was to Shirdi Industries Ltd and not to the ‘Trust’ or ‘Sai Baba’ in any fashion,” Surjewala also said.
He further said: “We can’t even imagine that or think of that. I think this question or should be directed at Piyush Goel and his friends who are actually maligning such pious and holy name by swindling public money. Using such pious name is something that should also be part of self-regulation in this country.”
“I hope that ‘Shirdi Trust’ will take up this matter both with SEBI as also with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and with the Prime Minister to consider to delete the name ‘Shirdi’ from every ‘public limited’ or ‘private limited’ companies, which they cannot use and then misuse by swindling money,” Surjewala added.
The Congress had alleged “impropriety” and “conflict of interest” on the part of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, saying a company associated with him in the past was given a “haircut” loan waiver of 65 per cent on the outstanding loan amount of over Rs 650 crore.
Goyal was chairman and full-time director of Shirdi Industries Ltd from April 25, 2008 to July 1, 2010, the party had said.
–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.