Bengal Congress leader calls on PM Modi to host Iftar parties

‘All governments of free India have held Iftar parties to express love and brotherhood to minorities.’

ing Ramzan.

The letter states: “Ever since our independence, all governments of free India had extended ‘Iftar party’ to the people belonging to a community to express our love, affection and brotherhood to them. I belong to a constituency where I found resentment among minority community that the pres- ent government is trying to alienate them from the mainstream ... However, I would urge to your good self to continue the tradition that would be a fine gesture to our brothers from the minority community.”

Chowdury had also raised the issue last year in the Lok Sabha. During Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, he had de- manded that the PM throw an Iftar party as has been the tradition. He was joined in his demand by other Congress MPs. However, they were chided by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who said that the House was not the right place for making such demands and that the MPs should approach the PM directly.

One political commentator said that Iftar parties had become a trend since the 1980s. “They have usually been convenient for those who wish to burnish their secular image by attending such parties. Moreover, it is the same people who end up attending most of these parties,” said the commentator.