National
I’ll join politics if people want it: Hardik Patel
By Sidhartha Dutta
New Delhi: Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel, who announced the formation of a new organisation, Akhil Bharatiya Patel Navnirman Sena (ABPNS) here on Wednesday, said that he would join politics “if people want” it.
“When time comes, then we can think about political steps. I cannot decide this alone. The decision will be taken by all of us,” Patel told in an interview here.
Any such decision would take time, Patel said when asked if he would join politics given the fact that even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal finally took the plunge after trudging the agitational path.
The 22-year-old has been spearheading protests in Gujarat to demand reservations for the Patel community. He announced the formation of his new organisation that is aimed at working for unifying Kurmis, Marathas, Patidar and Gujjar communities and for the “cause of farmers, labourers, women and youth”.
Akhilesh Katiyar, who was earlier with the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) led by Upendra Kushwaha, will be the general secretary of ABPNS, Patel said. Katiyar was expelled from the RLSP after he organised Patel’s first public meeting in Delhi. The RLSP is a member of the BJP-led NDA and shares power at the Centre.
Patel said that in October a rally of Kurmis, Patidars, Gujjars and Marathas from Delhi, Rajasthan and neighbouring states would be held at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. “We will create awareness among Kurmi brothers and involve them in this organisation,” said Patel.
Asked what was the need for a second organisation when his first outfit was already functioning well in Gujarat, Patel said PAAS was in Gujarat to fight for reservation for the Patel community.
“The Akhil Bhartiya Patel Navnirman Sena has been formed to unite the 27 crore Kurmis, Marathas, Patidar and Gujjars across the country. This is a non-political organisation.”
On the issue of supporting Bihar Chief MInister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United during Bihar assembly elections, he said: “We’ll not hold rallies in Bihar favouring any political party. Since Nitish Kumar belongs to our community, we’ll support him. We’ll not support Janata Dal-United.”
Patel also stressed that reservation should be given on the basis of “caste and nothing else”.
He said: “I never said that reservation should be on the basis of economic condition of people. I am fighting for reservation for the development of Patel community and support reservation for Gujjars, Kurmis and other communities.”
“If the Jats contact us, we’ll talk to them,” he added.
Patel said his organisation’s demand includes reservations for Kurmis in Jharkhand, Telangana, Andra Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. “The Kurmis have assured us that they will support us in every possible way in our movement in Gujarat.”
On the allegations of police abducting him, the Patidar community leader said: “The matter is in the Gujarat High Court, I don’t want to talk about it. Our campaign was going on in Gujarat, but the administration did not give us permission, leading to the tension.”
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.