RSS affiliate to host grand iftar party in Mumbai

NEW DELHI: Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an affiliate of the RSS, will host an iftar party for diplomats from Islamic countries and prominent members of the community on June 4 at the Sahyadri guest house in Malabar Hill. This is the first time the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will be holding an iftar party in Mumbai.

Mohammad Afzal, an MRM spokesperson said, “We used to organise the ‘Roza Iftar’ at the Parliament annexe building, but we feel that we should spread it across the country to connect with people more. Therefore, this year we have identified Mumbai.”

Consuls general of about 30 countries, 200 prominent members of the Muslim community as well as 100 members from other communities are expected to attend the event.

The RSS started holding such events in 2015 to reach out to the Muslim community, apparently, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision not to host such parties at Prime Minister’s residence. However, the RSS events to mingle with the Muslim community were mostly confined to north India.

The event in Mumbai is an attempt by the Sangh to reach out to Muslims in western and southern parts of the country.

Some of the ministers of Maharashtra, Muslim clerics, Union Ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and MJ Akbar and another senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain have been invited, Sangh sources said.

The MRM has identified four metropolitan cities across the country so far. “Next time we are going to hold the party in Kolkata and Chennai,” the MRM source added.