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DCW chief Maliwal to end fast on Sunday (Lead)
New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal, whose indefinite hunger strike to demand death for rapists of children continued for the ninth day on Saturday, said she would end her fast at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
“I’m ending the fast, but the struggle will go on,” the Aam Aadmi Party leader said while announcing her decision.
Earlier in the day, she said that she would continue her fast till the time an ordinance on the death penalty for rapists of children below the age of 12 — which was approved by the Union Cabinet on Saturday — is not promulgated.
Maliwal has been on fast since April 13 in support of her demand in the wake of rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua in January and other similar crime elsewhere.
Welcoming the Cabinet’s decision to approve the ordinance, Maliwal, said: “Until something concrete happens, I will not give up. Until a system is there to ensure safety of the last girl, I won’t give up.”
“When the Prime Minister can suddenly bring an ordinance without anybody knowing about it, when he can implement such a big project, then why can’t he do these few things? Till the time these are not done, my fast will not end,” she said and demanded the ordinance be immediately issued.
The DCW chief said: “I am happy that though, after nine days, the central government has taken the first step to (propose) death to rapists of small children within six months,” she said and also appreciated the Centre’s plan to increase the number of fast-track courts in the country to help avoid delay in justice in such cases.
However, Maliwal wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday on her other demands.
She said that just changing the law was not enough, its implementation was more important. Even more important was raising police resources and their accountability, she added.
“If police resources and their accountability is not increased, then do whatever, rapes will not stop,” Maliwal said, adding that it was the Prime Minister’s duty to determine police resources and accountability.
She said for the last 10 years, Delhi Police has been demanding 66,000 police personnel but nothing had happened till date. The direct impact of this is borne by the public, she said.
Police is only able to do VIP duties, not of the public and most police stations have less than half of the required strength, the DCW chief 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.