Top News
Anwar’s exit unfortunate but not ‘end of NCP’: Praful Patel (Third Lead)
Mumbai, Sep 28 (IANS) Jolted by the sudden exit from the party and the Lok Sabha of its founder member Tariq Anwar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday called the decision “unfortunate” but said it did not signify that the party “is finished”.
“Our President Sharad Pawar indirectly gave a clean chit to PM (Narendra Modi) on the Rafale deal. The PM is completely involved in the deal. The opposition is demanding a JPC to probe it. I am upset with his statements,” Anwar said after his resignation.
Senior NCP leader Praful Patel said: “It is his decision but the issue on which he quit is wrong. Leaders come and go. It (resignation) is an irresponsible step, but it doesn’t mean NCP is finished.
“He should have first called up Pawar and clarified his views. Merely levelling allegations is not proper. He has taken the step without consulting any leader or the party,” Patel said.
However, he said the party would try to speak with Anwar but the resignation from the Lok Sabha was a different issue.
“We are surprised but sad at the same time. We want to clarify that Anwar who was with the party since its birth and was a founder… you have left suddenly and in this fashion without any discussion with the leadership. It is not correct,” Patel said.
Without naming Anwar, NCP MP Supriya Sule termed it as “disappointing” that people had not heard what her father Pawar spoke in the interview to a Marathi TV news channel News18-Lokmat, aired on September 26.
“Pawar raised three questions: 1. What is the justification for a 300 percent price increase from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,670 crore which potentially could be a significant loss to the exchequer, 2. if such doubts have been raised and the government is so confident, then why are they shying from setting up a JPC, and 3. when the BJP raised both price and specification issues during Bofors allegations, then whey are they hiding behind artificial justification of secrecy of agreements vis-a-vis both commercial price and offset agreements,” said Sule.
Earlier in the day, Anwar, 67, quit from the party and his Lok Sabha seat, stunning political circles, He along with Pawar and the late P. A. Sangma had broken away from the Congress to launch the NCP in 1999 in Mumbai.
One of the closest confidants of Pawar, Anwar, who hails from Bihar, has been a member of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha for nearly four decades.
–IANS
qn/mr
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.