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Salvini defends ‘slave’ remarks for African migrants

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Rome, Sep 19 (IANS/AKI) Italy’s anti-migrant Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday defiantly defended his recent remarks calling African immigrants “new slaves”, saying his comments had been misinterpreted.

“I have nothing to apologise for, on the contrary it’s clear that some people are incapable of reading or of listening,” Salvini told a press conference at the Interior Ministry.

It was also possible that his remarks in Italian at a closed-door meeting in Vienna on migration and security last Thursday (secretly filmed and posted to his Facebook page) had been “mistranslated”, Salvini said.

“My comments in Vienna were actually in defence of refugees and immigrants, who some in Europe exploit as slaves,” Salvini said.

“I said we don’t need to import new slaves in this mass immigration and was defending the identity, right to work and health of millions of Africans,” Salvini went on.

His comments came an African Union statement expressed “dismay” over the remarks made by Salvini at the Vienna conference hosted by Austria (which holds the rotating European Union presidency).

“The African Union requests the Italian Deputy Prime Minister to retract his derogatory statement about African migrants,” said the statement.

“Name-calling will not resolve the migration challenges facing Africa and Europe,” the AU statement said.

In his remarks last week in Vienna Salvini claimed he did not want to “uproot the best of the African youth to replace Europeans who are not having children anymore.”

“In Italy there’s the need to help our kids have kids, not to have new slaves to replace the children we’re not having,” Salvini said.

Salvini’s remarks drew visible ire from Luxembourg’s Foreign and Immigration Minister Jean Asselborn, who heckled him and swore in French.

Tens of thousands of Italians had gone to work in Luxembourg in the post-war era “so that in Italy you had money to pay for your children,” Asselborn said.

Salvini reprimanded Asselborn for his “rudeness” in speaking out of turn.

–IANS/AKI
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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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