IFF concludes Hajj volunteer service 2018
KSA, August 31: Like every year, even this year India Fraternity forum (IFF) deputed its members for Hajj volunteer service. It is focusing on serving Hajis in every possible way since 16 years in kingdom. IFF systematically covered most part of the MINA to guide and help hajis.
IFF Dammam had a special team deployed for Hajj service which was started by a gathering in Dammam, with distribution of uniforms and ID cards by Mr. Attaullah, the head of Dammam team. He notified with do’s and don'ts to be followed during the service.
Volunteers were divided into teams in different areas lead by respective captains. IFF volunteers were seen helping the hajis in several different ways and coordinating with different service groups to fulfill the needs of the hajis. They also tried their best to make this journey more comfortable and easier for the Hajis.
The volunteers were provided with route map of MINA to assist the hajis to reach their desired destination.
Though it was a tough for the volunteers to serve continuously for 12-14 hours on field they completed their task with utmost care and dedication. Below are few highlights and positive moments of the volunteers.
volunteers were seen physically lifting the hajis and taking them to their accommodation at MINA.
Hajis were provided with food materials, provided with waters, umbrellas and sandals.
Volunteers were continuously seen assisting hajis by carrying their baggage and helping the old/disabled ones to move them in a wheelchair.
Volunteers were seen guiding the misguided and lost hajis to their respective accommodation.
Volunteers were seen interacting with hajis from different nationalities and guiding them in spite of being unfamiliar of the language.
The journey ended up on the 13th dhul hajj by assisting and supporting the hajis reach their respective buildings at Aziziya.
Adequate food, comfortable accommodation, medical aids and good transportation were provided for the volunteers at Makkah from IFF.
Mr. Attaullah appreciated the volunteers for the hard work and motivated them to participate in the upcoming years to serve the hajis.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
