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India calls for UN-led consensus on zero tolerance on terrorism
By Arul Louis
United Nations, March 8 (IANS) India has called for a “UN-led consensus on zero tolerance on terrorism”, while condemning Pakistan’s use of cross-border insurgency as an instrument of state policy.
“We all need to unequivocally condemn terrorism and its perpetrators,” Rajiv Chander, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, told the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday after Islamabad had criticised New Delhi.
He said that in Jammu and Kashmir, “the central problem is cross-border terrorism and Pakistan’s use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy”. “This fact needs due recognition.”
“We firmly believe that UN-led consensus on zero tolerance on terrorism is as much an international obligation as it is a commitment to our own people” he said.
Speaking after the Pakistani delegation, who launched an attack asserting that Jammu and Kashmir “was under illegal Indian occupation”, Chander declared that “the whole state is an integral part of India. Pakistan remains in illegal occupation of a part of our territory”.
He did not directly mention the Pakistan representative or the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michele Bachelet, who had criticised India on Wednesday.
“India is a secular State and safeguarding the rights of minorities forms an essential core of our polity” Chander said in comments that responded to her criticism.
“The Indian Constitution enshrines various provisions for the protection of rights and interests of the minorities… The state makes no distinction between caste, creed, colour or religion of a citizen.”
Bachelet had spoken of “reports that indicate increasing harassment and targeting of minorities – in particular Muslims and people from historically disadvantaged and marginalised groups, such as Dalits and Adivasis” and said that “that narrow political agendas are driving the further marginalisation of vulnerable people” and deepening inequalities.
Chander said that as the world’s largest democracy, “Indian polity also weaves in immense diversity along with respect for tolerance and mutual understanding”.
India had an independent judiciary, free and vibrant media, and a vocal civil society while “national and state-level Human Rights Commissions along with other specific Commissions continue to monitor complaints from minority communities”.
The Indian government has issued Communal Harmony Guidelines that sets out standard operating procedures to deal with communal violence, he added.
Pakistan’s acting Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, spoke twice before Chander — the first time on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and then on behalf of his country.
In his OIC speech, he made only a passing reference to Jammu and Kashmir along with other hotspots like Myanmar, where he said people suffered from long-standing disputes.
Speaking on behalf of Pakistan, Andrabi denied that his country had a hand in the troubles in the state, asserting that the source of the unrest was “indigenous” and cited Indian “experts” as saying it resulted from its “own operational and policy failures” that alienated Kashmiris.
He mentioned the arrest of Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan as an example of reprisals against human rights activists.
Sultan, a former assistant editor of Kashmir Narrator, has been charged with harbouring terrorists.
(Arul Louis can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
–IANS
al/ksk
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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.
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