Boycott Iftar parties, say Muslim leaders

Rajendranagar: Protesting over the way the demolition of mosque took place at Amberpet and the role played by the government agencies that led to the disruption of otherwise peaceful atmosphere and communal harmony, Muslim religious bodies and their leaders gave a call to Muslims for a total boycott of government sponsored Iftar Parties during the month of Ramadan.

Contending that the Iftar parties have become more political eyeing the Mulsim vote bank than promoting communal harmony, General Secretary Sufi Academy Moulana Syed Taraq Quadri and President All India Sunny Ulema Board Moulana Syed Hamid Hussain Shuttari, in a joint statement here on Sunday, said that these so-called goodwill gatherings through Iftar parties were not serving any purpose and the government was simply trying to escape from the real issues of Muslim community by organising the same.

Furthermore, they said that the Muslim community was deeply distressed over the utter negligence and indifference on the part of officials of various government bodies and the leaders of the ruling party for failing to adopt a sensible and legalistic approach in dealing the sensitive matter of Amberpet mosque.

They said that there was no point in hosting such Iftar parties when the State government was deliberately ignoring the issues faced by the Muslims. Maulana Qadri said that the vested interests were looting the Wakf properties and the officials did not implement the Wakf Act properly. "Ruling party and its allies are going for the whole hog in buying the Muslims support during the elections but offering them peanuts in return after the hustings", Maulani Shuttari lamented.

(file pics for representation purpose)