Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know M iddlesex College has partnered with several community organi- zations to launch a new initia- tive providing free hot meals to students facing food insecurity. Beginning this month, the program will offer nutritious meals every Thursday at noon in the Student Activities Center. Organizers say the effort is designed to support about 100 students each week with a reliable source of food during the school day. The college is working with theWorld Food Movement, Radha Gopinath Mandir and the India Heritage Foundation to operate the program. Meals are prepared by volunteers from the temple and foun- dation and feature vegetarian options intended to be both filling and culturally inclusive. The initiative was formally introduced at a kickoff event attended by local lead- ers, including Edison Mayor Sam Joshi; Middlesex College President Mark Mc- Cormick; Shuklambhara Dasa, president of theWorld Food Movement; and Sarva Lakshana Das, general manager of the Radha Gopinath Temple and a representa- tive of the India Heritage Foundation. As part of the launch, the dignitaries helped serve meals to students through the “Weekend Chef” program, handing plates to a long line of attendees inside the student center. Organizers said the partnership is aimed at addressing a growing challenge on college campuses, where rising costs and economic pressures have left some students struggling to afford regular meals. “Our mission is to provide 1 million nutritious meals annually across the U.S. by 2030, promoting healthier bodies and minds,” theWorld Food Movement said in a statement displayed at the event. College officials said they hope the consistent access to healthy food will improve students’ overall well-being and help them stay focused on their studies. Students can receive meals by visiting the Student Activities Center on Thursdays at noon. Information about volunteering or supporting the initiative, including QR codes for donations and details, is avail- able at the distribution site.. Middlesex College Launches Free Weekly Meal Program For Students Facing Food Insecurity By a StaffWriter PHOTO:ORGANIZERS Edison Mayor joins college leaders and community partners in distributing hot meals to students during the launch of a new weekly food assistance program at Middlesex College’s Student Activities Center. The initiative, a partnership with the World Food Movement, Radha Gopinath Mandir and the India Heritage Foundation, will provide free meals to about 100 students each week. 5 CITY VIEWS February 20, 2026 US DEA Releases Photo Of Nikhil Gupta Accused Of Assassination Plot Against India-Designated Terrorist Pannun N ewYork’s Drug Enforcement Administration released pictures of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian man accused of orchestrating a failed assassina- tion plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a IA designated terrorist in NewYork, who pleaded guilty on Friday (local time) and was given a sentence of upto 24 years in prison. Sharing the visuals in a post on X it said, “Regional As- sociate Chief of Operations Frank Tarentino issues state- ment on the Guilty Plea of Nikhil Gupta; thanks to the great work of the #DEANYTFD, who foiled this murder- for-hire plot.” #DEANortheast Regional Associate Chief of Opera- tions Frank Tarentino issues statement on the Guilty Plea of Nikhil Gupta; thanks to the great work of the #DEAN- YTFD, who foiled this murder-for-hire plot. @NYPDnews @nyspolice @DEAHQ @SDNYnews @TheJusticeDept https://t.co/7uX2L5Crbw pic.twitter.com/8M7dovcUtP —DEANewYork (@DEANEWYORKDiv) February 13, 2026 The FBI in NewYork stated that the case highlights the FBI’s ongoing commitment to protecting the homeland from threats posed by foreign nationals targeting Ameri- cans exercising their constitutionally protected rights. In a post on X, the FBI said, “Following an investigation by FBI NewYork, and US Attorney SDNY, Nikhil Gupta pled guilty to plotting to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City.” “…NIKHIL GUPTA, a/k/a “Nick,” an Indian national, pled guilty to all three counts contained in the Second Superseding Indictment, charging him with murder- for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with his efforts to murder a U.S. citizen in NewYork City. GUPTA pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn and is scheduled to be sentenced by US District Judge Victor Marrero on May 29, 2026,” a state- ment by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of NewYork said. “Nikhil Gupta was a key participant in a murder-for- hire plot against a US citizen, a murder that was prevent- ed thanks to the actions of US law enforcement,” said FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky. “The US citizen became a target of transnational re- pression solely for exercising their freedom of speech. The message from the FBI should be clear – no matter where you are located if you try to harm our citizens we will not stop until you are brought to justice.” Earlier, on October 17, 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the individual named in the US Justice Department’s indictment case in the foiled as- sassination plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was no longer an employee of the govern- ment of India. “The US State Department informed us that the indi- vidual in the Justice Department indictment is no longer employed by India. I confirm that he is no longer an em- ployee of the Government of India,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press conference. Notably, the US Justice Department has claimed that an Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination of Pannun, which was foiled by US authorities, according to prosecutors. According to the allegations levelled earlier, the ac- cused Nikhil Gupta is an associate of an employee of the Indian government and together they and others helped plot the assassination of Pannun in NewYork City. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an India-designated ter- rorist who holds American and Canadian citizenship. -ANI PHOTO:CourtesyANI New York’s Drug Enforcement Administration released a photo of Nikhil Gupta in custody.