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Mamata, Trinamool welcomes HC verdict on Bengal Panchayat polls
Kolkata, May 10 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday welcomed the Calcutta High Court’s verdict allowing the State Election Commission to go ahead with the rural polls on May 14 and said the state government wants the election to be peaceful.
“This verdict is in favour of the people. We are in favour of democracy and election. We want the election to be peaceful,” Banerjee told reporters here.
Acting on a Congress petition that sought the quashing of the May 14 Panchayat elections on the ground of inadequate security, a division bench of High Court Chief Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee said it would not intervene in the election process if the SEC was satisfied with the security arrangements made by the state.
It also directed the commission to ensure a free and fair election process.
Welcoming the verdict, state’s ruling Trinamool Congress said the party is ready for the Panchayat polls to be held on May 14.
“As a party we are ready as per the direction of the court and as per the decision of the state election commission, the election has been declared on May 14. So all preparations for the election are being taken,” Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said.
“We work for the people 365 days a year. So it is not a matter of election to be held on May 14 or later. As of now we are going by the declaration of SEC to hold polling on May 14,” he said.
Chatterjee claimed the state opposition parties had no other options other than forming a nexus among themselves and moving court, as Trinamool is the only party in the state that has people’s support.
“The SEC had declared the polling dates but three of our friends (opposition parties) moved court to delay the election process…We have said before that Trinamool Congress is the only party here who are with the people. The opposition parties do not have any weapons apart from forming a nexus and moving court, to counter us.”
Chatterjee also claimed that the delay in elections has adversely impacted the state’s economy and developmental works as the model code of conduct has been enforced.
The SEC had previously declared three-phased rural polls in Bengal on May 1, 3 and 5 but was directed to issue a fresh election schedule by the Calcutta High Court following complaints of pre-poll violence and problems in submitting of nomination papers by the state opposition parties.
The commission then announced May 14 as the fresh polling date.
–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.