Top News
IAF chief hopes S-400 deal will sail through
New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) With the punitive US law CAATSA looming large over the Indo-Russian S-400 missile deal, Air Force chief B.S. Dhanoa on Wednesday said that he expected the deal to sail through “as and when the government clears it”.
“The negotiations are over and it is with the government now. I don’t think that CAATSA is likely to come in the way. But the decision belongs to the government,” the Air Chief Marshal said a day ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2-day visit to India.
Putin will hold a bilateral meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 5 and the over Rs 40,000 crore S-400 Triumf air defence system is likely to be top on the agenda.
Media reported Putin’s top foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov as saying on Tuesday that the S-400 deal was very much likely to be signed during President Putin’s visit to India.
Dhanoa said S-400 would be like a “booster shot” in the IAF’s arm.
India has been treading cautiously on the deal, which it has been discussing with Russia since 2015, amid US objections and threats of sanctions if India went ahead with the purchase of surface-to-air S-400 missile system.
Congressman Mac Thornberry, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee that oversees the US Department of Defense, has said there was “concern” in the US that the deal would complicate matters as far as “ability to work on inter-operability” was concerned.
The US last year passed the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CATSA that mandates the US administration to punish countries engaging in major transactions with Russia, Iran and North Korea.
However, the US Congress has now passed a law granting waiver to some countries. India is expecting to be a beneficiary of the waiver. But the US President has to personally certify the deal for a waiver.
–IANS
mak/vsc/sed
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.