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Aeroshow stays in Bengaluru, government confirms (Third Lead)
New Delhi/Bengaluru, Sep 8 (IANS) The Union government on Saturday declared that the next edition of Aero India will be held in Bengaluru from February 20-24 next year, putting to rest speculation about the venue and date of the trade and defence biennial event.
“The government has decided to hold Aero India 2019 in Bengaluru from February 20-24, 2019,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement in New Delhi.
The 12th edition of the five-day biennial event will be held at the Yelahanka base of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Bengaluru’s northern outskirts.
“The trade event will showcase technologies and products of global and Indian aerospace and defence firms, with static and flying display of military and civil aircraft, including fighters, jets, helicopters and air weapons.
The announcement comes amid speculation that the government has decided to shift the show to Lucknow where a huge defence corridor linking Agra, Aligarh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi and Chitrakoot in the Bundelkhand region is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath too had urged Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to hold the event ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections in the state that sends the maximum 80 members to Parliament’s Lower House.
It was also speculated that the government had decided to advance the show to be held later this year.
Sitharaman had earlier made it clear that no announcement had been made even as “people in many places are asking for (the show to be held in their states).”
The Ministry had also received requests from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha and Tamil Nadu to host the next show in their respective states. But all those apprehensions have been dispelled.
The trade event will host global leaders, investors in the aerospace industry and think tanks from the world over, providing an opportunity to exchange information, ideas and developments in the industry, the statement said.
“The air show will also give a fillip to the domestic aviation and further the cause of ‘Make in India’. The defence production department is committed to ensure a result-oriented air show,” the statement added.
The Karnataka government welcomed the ministry’s decision to hold the air show in Bengaluru only.
“It’s a great relief that the air show is not moving out of the city, which is also the country’s aerospace hub. We thank the Defence Ministry for the right decision,” a senior official in the Chief Minister’s Office told IANS in Bengaluru.
In a tweet later, state Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said the central government confirmed that AeroIndia 2019 would be held in Bengaluru.
“There was a concern regarding speculation that the biennial air show could be moved out of Bengaluru. I thank the @DefenceMinIndia for continuing the prestigious show in Bengaluru,” tweeted Kumaraswamy.
State Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara welcomed the ministry’s decision to continue the event in “namma” (our) Bengaluru.
“We shall extend our full cooperation to make the event a grand success, as we have been doing since 1996,” tweeted Parameshwara, who is also the city’s development minister.
In the 11th edition, held from February 14 to 18, 2017, 549 firms — both global and Indian — from 51 countries participated.
–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.