Top News
Aiyar says Savarkar was first proponent of two-nation theory
Lahore, May 7 (IaNS) Suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday kicked off yet another controversy by saying that Hindu Mahasabha leader V.D. Savarkar was first proponent of two-nation theory and added that he invented the term “Hindutva” to create religious divide in the society.
His remark come at time when Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s portrait at the Aligarh Muslim University has sparked off a row.
The Congress party, however, distanced from his remark, saying that Aiyar should retire from politics and sit at home.
The Congress had suspended Aiyar from its primary membership and slapped a show-cause notice on him for his “neech” remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which had mushroomed into a massive controversy just ahead of the Gujarat polls.
“Situation in India is an abhorrent one. In 1923, a man called V.D. Savarkar in his book invented a word which doesn’t exist in any religious text, ‘Hindutva’.
“So, first proponent of two-nation theory was ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India,” Aiyar said at an event in Lahore.
“Approximately 70 per cent of Indian electorate did not vote for Modi in the last election, but lost because they were completely fractioned among themselves.
“It is my fervent hope … that a great fraction of this 70 per cent who did not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the last election, will come together adequately to be able to put an end to the aberration that we have been suffering in our country,” he said.
Aiyar further said that he referred to Jinnah as the “Quaid-e-Azam” and the hysterical Indian TV anchors were demanding to know how an Indian could go to Pakistan and say this.
“I know many Pakistanis who called M.K. Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi; does that make them unpatriotic Pakistanis?” he added.
BJP President Amit Shah attacked Aiyar and the Congress party for his remark and tweeted: “Congress and Pakistan have amazing telepathy. Yesterday (Sunday) Pakistan government remembered Tipu Sultan, whose Jayanti Congress marks with fanfare and today Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar admires Jinnah. Be it Gujarat or Karnataka polls, I fail to understand why Congress involves Pakistan!”
“During Gujarat elections we saw how dinner meetings with topmost Pakistan officials were held to defeat BJP and now mutual love for Tipu Sultan and Jinnah. I appeal to Congress not to involve foreign nations in our domestic politics. Let’s keep the discourse civil and positive,” he added.
Reacting to Aiyar’s remark, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said: “He (Aiyar) has been suspended from the Congress party. So, nobody should take cognizance of what he says. Unfortunately, he is a habitual in speaking the language he has spoken. I wonder why he is going to Pakistan everytime.”
“It looks that something is wrong with him. He should retire from politics and sit at home,” Azad added.
–IANS
sid/nir
Top News
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.