She told me not to cry if something happened to her: Rahul on Indira Gandhi's death anniversary
New Delhi, Oct 31: Recounting Indira Gandhi's assassination and funeral, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said just hours before her death she told him not to cry if something happened to her.
In a video released on YouTube on former prime minister Indira Gandhi's 37th death anniversary, Gandhi described the day of his grandmother's funeral as the "second most difficult day of my life".
Indira Gandhi, the then prime minister, was assassinated in 1984 by two of her security guards linked to Khalistani extremists.
"(In) the morning before she died she told me that don't cry if something happens to me. I did not understand what she meant and two-three hours later she was dead," Rahul Gandhi said, recounting the setback he and his family suffered that day.
"She (Indira Gandhi) sort of sensed that she would be killed and I think everyone in the house also knew it. She once said to us on the dining table that the biggest curse would be to die of a disease," the former Congress chief said in the video titled 'With love, in memory of my beloved Grandmother, Indira ji', which has been released on his YouTube account.
From her perspective it was probably the best way to die for her country, defending the idea that she loved, Gandhi said.
He said he essentially had two mothers -- "a super mother who was my grandmother, who basically would defend me when my father got angry, and my mother".
For me it was like losing my mother, Gandhi added.
Images from Indira Gandhi's funeral and last rites were also part of the video which showed a young Rahul mourning his grandmother's demise.
Earlier on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to Indira Gandhi at her memorial "Shakti Sthal" here.
"My grandmother served the country fearlessly till the last moment -- her life is a source of inspiration for us," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
"A great example of women power, humble tributes to Mrs. Indira Gandhi on her martyrdom day," he said.
मेरी दादी अंतिम घड़ी तक निडरता से देश सेवा में लगी रहीं- उनका जीवन हमारे लिए प्रेरणा स्त्रोत है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 31, 2021
नारी शक्ति की बेहतरीन उदाहरण श्रीमती इंदिरा गांधी जी के बलिदान दिवस पर विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि। pic.twitter.com/IoElhOswji
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Nepal joins Singapore and Hong Kong in banning sale of Everest and MDH spices over safety concerns
Kathmandu: Nepal has recently taken steps to ban the consumption and sale of spices produced by Everest and MDH, following similar actions by Singapore and Hong Kong. The move comes amidst concerns over the presence of harmful chemicals in these products, particularly ethylene oxide, a known cancer-causing pesticide.
According to reports from ANI, Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has initiated testing on spices from these two Indian brands for ethylene oxide. Mohan Krishna Maharjan, spokesperson for Nepal's food technology department, confirmed the ban, stating that it extends to both import and sale of the affected spices.
Maharjan highlighted that testing is currently ongoing, and the ban will remain in effect until conclusive results are obtained. This development reflects a growing international scrutiny on the safety of MDH and Everest spices, with concerns also raised in New Zealand, the United States, and Australia.
In New Zealand, where ethylene oxide usage for food sterilization has been phased out, authorities are investigating the presence of this chemical in MDH and Everest spices. Meanwhile, in April, the Hong Kong food safety body banned four spice products from these brands, followed by Singapore's recall of Everest's Fish Curry Masala due to excessive levels of ethylene oxide.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has responded by ordering quality checks on products from MDH and Everest. Additionally, it has reached out to food safety regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore for further information.
MDH and Everest spices have long been household names in India and are exported to various countries, including those in the Middle East.
