Raza urges Muslims to cut down on Bakrid expenses and help Kerala flood victims

LUCKNOW: State minister for minority affairs Mohsin Raza on Monday appealed to Muslims to keep Bakrid celebrations a lowkey affair this year and contribute generously towards relief efforts in the flood-ravaged Kerala.

The minister said he would make a personal contribution of Rs 25,000 -- money that he had kept aside for buying sacrificial goats -- to help the victims.

“I think contributing to those in need is perhaps the bigger ‘qurbani’ (sacrifice). So, I appeal to people to cut down on their expenses and contribute generously for the welfare of Kerala flood victims,” said Raza while talking to HT.

Many organisations, individu-

› I think contributing to those in need is perhaps the bigger ‘qurbani’. So, I appeal to people to contribute generously for Kerala flood victims. MOHSIN RAZA, minister

als and social media users have also announced to voluntarily reduce their Bakrid celebration expenses. One of the first organisations to appeal to Muslims to divert their festival funds towards relief operations was the Begamat Royal Family of Avadh.

“It’s one of the worst tragedies. We shall stand united and help people who are stranded. Our appeal is just a small attempt to help those in need,” said Farhana Maliki, president of the Begamat Royal Family of Avadh. Also present at the meeting where the appeal was made was Bollywood actor Pappu Polyester.

Similar appeals are being made on the social media too. A message on facebook reads — ‘Dear all, there will be no Bakrid celebrations at our home in Lucknow (nor in Pune), as my parents don’t feel like it .With all of us away and anyways we don't give qurbani. Just spreading the info on my mother’s request (sic)’.

A twitter user Arfa Khanum Sherwani’s post reads — ‘This Bakrid, instead of sacrificing animals, how about Muslims donating for Kerala flood (victims)? There can’t be a greater ‘qurbani’ than helping your fellow countrymen. I have decided to do that as an individual’.

On Sunday, clerics across the state appealed to Muslims to donate a part of their Bakrid budget to help the people caught in the deluge. Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said, “People of Kerala are facing the worst calamity and it is our joint responsibility to help in rescue work. I have urged people of the community to save at least 10% of their Bakrid budget and send it for aiding relief efforts.” He also advised people to abstain from lavish festivities.