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India-Indonesia interfaith dialogue in October

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Jakarta, July 31 (IANS) The first India Indonesia Interfaith Dialogue (IIID) will be held on October 3-5 in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, the Indian Embassy here said on Tuesday.

The next steps to convening the IIID were discussed during a visit by Indian Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar to this southeast Asian nation from July 28 to 31, according to an embassy statement.

Akbar’s visit comes after the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Indonesia in May this year.

Akbar met Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi here on Monday.

“They discussed ways to ensure a substantive and outcome-oriented meeting of the First Interfaith Dialogue between India and Indonesia, as well as bilateral and multilateral issues,” the statement said.

“It was agreed to host the first IIID on October 3-5 in the historic city of Yogyakarta – a powerful symbol of Indonesia’s syncretic culture.”

Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population.

According to the statement, Akbar also met Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Gen. (Retd). Wiranto Monday and exchanged ideas for involving key stakeholders from both sides in the upcoming IIID.

“Both leaders reiterated their commitment to early reconvening of the second round of India Indonesia Security Dialogue later this year in Indonesia,” it stated.

“They agreed that it was as important to win the argument in the mind as to defeat terrorism in its chosen battlefields.”

Akbar also conveyed the Indian government’s deepest condolences to the Indonesian government on the loss of 14 lives at the earthquake in the tourist island of Lombok on July 29.

He also met with Haider Nashir, Chairman of Muhammadiah, and K.H. Said Aqil Siradj, Chairman of Nahldatul Ulama, which are Indonesia’s largest independent Islamic organisations and discussed steps to increase academic and educational exchanges amongst scholars from their organizations with appropriate counterpart institutions in India.

“Both organizations agreed to work in appropriate cooperation with India to spread the message of pluralism and harmony between different faiths,” the embassy statement said.

On Tuesday, Akbar met Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Agus Widjojo, Governor of Lemhannas, which is Indonesia’s premier training institution for senior leadership of its defence forces.

“Both sides discussed ways and means to deepen defence exchanges and institutionalise cooperation between defence institutes and think tanks of India and Indonesia,” the statement said.

During the course of his visit, Akbar also met members of IndCham in Jakarta, which is a leading association of Indian corporate entities and business leaders having interests in promoting economic and trade relations between Indonesia and India.

He encouraged them to work on deepening bilateral investments and called for creative thinking to augmenting tourism flows from Indonesia to India.

–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

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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.

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