‘Expired’ saline case: Suspended doc moves Calcutta HC alleging harassment by CID

Bhubaneswar, Oct 10 (IANS) The senior citizens have a significant role to play in realising the vision of a developed India and in making India a Vishwaguru (global leader), said Nityananda Gond, Odisha Minister for Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department on Friday.

While attending the State-Level Senior Citizens’ Day 2025 event organised by the SSEPD Department here, Gond also added that the state government is taking all the necessary measures to address the problems faced by the senior citizens in the state.

“Senior citizens have a significant role to play in realising the vision of a Developed India and in making India a Vishwaguru (global leader). The government is fully aware of the problems faced by senior citizens and is taking necessary measures for their resolution. By drawing inspiration, blessings, and experience from our elders across various walks of life, we can certainly achieve these national goals,” said the SSPED Minister.

He also urged all to remember and honour the contributions of our elders every day. Gond noted that senior citizens are invaluable sources of knowledge and experience.

“Their wisdom and guidance are immensely helpful in building and developing a healthy society,” stated the minister. Bhubaneswar (Ekamra) MLA Babu Singh, who attended the programme, stated that it is the collective responsibility of every section of society to ensure that senior citizens are given due importance and provided with social and economic security, without considering them as burdens.

“We must always remember that elderly people are not a burden. By moving forward with their experience, ideals, and blessings, we can lead a life of happiness and peace,” he said.

On this occasion, senior citizens were sensitised and made aware of financial literacy, digital literacy, and cyber safety. Apart from senior officials of the SSPED department, the event was also attended by a large number of senior citizens, intellectuals, and representatives from voluntary organisations.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) Following the recent life sentence handed to former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, victims’ families are still grappling with the pain of a justice system they feel has failed them. However, they expressed gratefulness to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring that they got justice.

While the Rouse Avenue Court’s ruling brought closure for many, some victims still feel it falls short of true justice, demanding that Sajjan Kumar should have been given harsher punishment, like the death penalty.

In an emotional response, several victims’ families expressed gratitude to PM Modi, acknowledging the government’s support.

Talking to IANS, Atar Kaur, a victim of the violence said, “The Congress party did wrong. The honour of our daughters-in-law and daughters was stolen. My relative, Gurdeep Kaur, was murdered right before our eyes. The killing of Sikhs was not random; it was targeted. We haven’t received true justice for the atrocities we suffered.”

Mentioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi she said: “He speaks of his grandmother Indira Gandhi’s assassination, but why can’t he understand the pain we endured? Memories of the riots still haunt us. Sajjan Kumar should have been hanged.”

Kuldeep Kaur also voiced her dissatisfaction with the verdict: “This decision is not in our favour. We hoped for Sajjan Kumar’s execution. He was protected under the Congress, but we want to thank PM Modi for ensuring he is punished. It is because of Modi’s government that justice was served. We will continue to fight for a harsher punishment and will knock on the court’s doors until Sajjan Kumar is hanged.”

Lakshmi Kaur also recalled the horrors she experienced: “Two of my family members were burnt alive. We can never forget the Congress government’s atrocities. Under PM Modi, we had hope for justice when no one listened to us before. We were left starving and without shelter for days. This stain on the Congress will never be erased.”

Atma Singh, from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, called for more accountability, particularly from Congress leader Kamal Nath, saying, “Those who are guilty must be punished. If PM Modi’s government hadn’t come to power, Sajjan Kumar would never have been convicted. We owe our survival to the support of PM Modi. We were forced to beg for food for a year-and-a-half, and it all stemmed from the Congress government’s actions. We didn’t kill Indira Gandhi, then why were our families slaughtered?”

–IANS

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