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AAP gives mixed signals over alliance with Congress
New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party’s stand on a tie-up with the Congress in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections remained unclear on Friday as AAP leaders attacked the Congress for its “conditional” farm loan waiver while not completely ruling out chances of an alliance.
Speaking to the media after a meeting of party’s national executive on today, AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai said, “The party will monitor the situation in the coming days and will take a decision accordingly”, when asked about the chances of alliance with the Congress.
AAP’s Punjab convener Bhagwant Mann termed the question of alliance “hypothetical.” The AAP is in opposition in Punjab and the Congress is in power.
“Have you ever heard of an opposition party joining hands with the one in power? What will we tell people if we joined hands?” Mann said.
The AAP leaders attacked the Congress over “conditions” imposed by the party for loan waivers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where it came to power a few days ago.
“The farmers are being exploited by both Congress and BJP. Before the 2014 elections, the BJP had promised that they would ensure corrections in crop prices. But they failed. Similarly, the Congress too had promised a complete loan waiver,” Rai said.
“The Congress is also not able to fulfill its promise of a loan waiver in the three states where it won the Assembly elections. Only some selected farmers will get the benefit,” Rai said.
AAP’s Rajasthan leader Rampal Jat also attacked the Congress.
“The congress has promised that it will give a complete loan wavier to the farmers within 10 days of coming to power in the three states. Now, they have imposed several conditions. Both the parties (Congress and BJP) are exploiting the farmers,” Jat said.
The AAP demanded the Congress implement a complete loan waiver.
Briefing the media about the other decisions, Rai said the AAP will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with its full strength with an aim to defeat the ‘Modi-Shah’ combine.
“We will contest on all those seats where we can defeat the Modi-Shah duo,” Rai said without giving details of the seats.
“The way the Modi-Shah are disturbing the fabric of democracy and trying to establish dictatorship is dangerous for the people.”
The AAP will have a national council meeting on Saturday and will discuss all aspects of Lok Sabha election campaign, Rai said.
“The national council members and convenors from different states will take part in the meeting on Saturday,” Rai said.
The members, in the meeting, will decide the party’s strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The party will also decide on the number of seats it will contest and any possibility of alliance, Rai added.
Amid speculation that the party was planning to amend the AAP’s constitution in order to allow Arvind Kejriwal to continue as the party’s convener, Rai said, “There is no such agenda for the meeting”.
According to AAP’s constitution, no member can hold the same post as an office-bearer for more than two consecutive terms of three years each. AAP was founded on November 26, 2012. Senior party officials said Kejriwal’s tenure as convener is due to end in April 2019.
–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.