YOGI SKIPS RAJ BHAWAN’S ROZA IFTAR
CM Yogi Adityanath skipped the roza iftar hosted by governor Ram Naik in Raj Bhawan here on Friday. “The chief minister informed me on telephone that he will be in New Delhi for filing of nomination of NDA’s presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. So he could not make it,” said Naik. Much significance is being attached to Yogi’s move as the CM did not host any roza iftar at the chief minister’s official residence here.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath skipped the “Roza Iftar” that governor Ram Naik hosted at Raj Bhawan here on Friday.
“The chief minister informed me on telephone that he will be in New Delhi for filing of nomination of NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind and will not be able to make it,” said Naik.
Significantly, unlike his predecessors, the chief minister also has not hosted a “Roza Iftar” at the chief minister’s official residence here. All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, who is also the Imam of Lucknow Idgah, said, “Roza Iftar” has been a tradition. The chief minister should have been courteous to attend the one hosted by the governor.” Khalid Rashid and Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad led the ‘nawaz’ for their respective sects at the Raj Bhawan.
Others who did not make it to the Raj Bhawan included former chief ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav. “Both of them had informed me that they are in New Delhi and so wil not be able to attend,” said the governor. Besides senior ministers of the Yogi government, those present included Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, former MP Lalji Tandon and senior Samajwadi Party leader Ahmad Hasan.
Incidentally, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) also has not hosted such an event for two years. “UPCC proposed to host an Iftar this year. It was, however, cancelled at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances,” said a senior Congress leader.
OTHERS WHO DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE RAJ BHAWAN INCLUDED FORMER CHIEF MINISTERS MULAYAM SINGH YADAV AND AKHILESH YADAV