Iftar party an occasion to strengthen religious harmony: Mukesh Hegde
Mukesh Hegde has been conducting Iftar party for the last 20 years
Mangaluru, June 11: In a communally sensitive place like Mangaluru, a businessman belonging to Hindu community has been conducting harmonious Iftar party for the last 20 years, receiving widespread appreciation both from the Hindu and Muslim communities.
Mukesh Hegde, owner of Car Décor at Kadri Shivabagh in the city, has been conducting the Iftar party on second or third Sunday of Ramzan month in the city for the last 20 years. This time, he organized the Iftar party on June 1 in which more than 100 people participated. Talent Research Foundation founder president Abdul Rauf Puttige gave Ramzan and Iftar party message.
Those who were on fasting participated in the party happily. They appreciated the hospitality of Mukesh Hegde, his wife and children during the party. They expect that such harmonious programmes should be conducted regularly in the city in order to avoid communal hatred among people.
Speaking to Varthabharati, Hegde said that “I am not organizing the Iftar party for publicity or attracting customers. I have many friends and well-wishers of Muslims, Hindus and Christians. I believe that this is no other right occasion than this one to spend a happy moment with them. So, I have been organizing this party along with my family members and this would continue in future”, he said.
“In 1998, my Car Décor outlet was at the Saibeen Complex at Lalbagh in the city. I was observing my Muslim friends who were on fasting during Ramadan month and the Iftar party being held there every day attracted me most. After this, I have planned to organize the Iftar party during every Ramzan. With the support of Saibeen Complex owner, owners of other outlets and staff, I had organized the Iftar party. In the beginning, more than 300-400 people used to participate in the Iftar party. Since eight years, I have been organizing the party at my own house at Kadri Shivabagh. Around 100-150 persons participate in the party. In this party also, more than 100 persons participated”, Hegde said.
Space for prayer
“We not only organize Iftar party, but also allow the participants to have prayer. For this, we will arrange carpets. We, including my wife and children, will cordially invite the guests who accept our invitation. I cannot express the joy and experience in simple words”, he said.
Hindus and Christians too attend
“This is just a harmonious iftar party in which along with Muslims, my Hindu and Christian friends will also participate happily. IN order to make them understand the value of the Iftar party, Abdul Rauf Puttige will give Ramzan and Iftar message in Tulu. So, this Iftar party is ensuring religious and linguistic harmony among us”, he said.
No poverty if zakat is offered
Islam religion has given priority for zakat. Probably as I know, there is no alternative system than zakat to alleviate poverty in the society. Rich people giving zakat to the deserving poor once in a year should be made mandatory. This might alleviate the poverty in future. There is no need to impose tax on them also, he said.
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Kharge likens BJP and RSS to poison; says 'poisonous snake should be killed'
Pune, Nov 17: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday likened the BJP and RSS to "poison" and termed them as "politically most dangerous" in India.
Addressing a rally in Sangli on the penultimate day before the campaigning for the Maharashtra assembly polls concluded, Kharge used the "killing the poisonous snake" analogy in his speech.
"If there is anything which is politically the most dangerous in India is the BJP and RSS. They are like poison. If a snake bites, the person (who is bitten) dies...such a poisonous snake should be killed," said Kharge.
He targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the death of 10 newborns in a fire at a medical college.
Without naming Vishal Patil, the Congress rebel and Independent MP from Sangli, Kharge accused him of betraying the party and supporting his sister-in-law, who is contesting as an Independent nominee in the November 20 assembly elections.
In a dig at BJP, Kharge said the number of leaders who campaigned in Maharashtra polls outnumbered the number of candidates of the saffron party in the fray.
"The Prime Minister, Home Minister (Amit Shah) and other leaders have come here. Today, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath was also here. No idea what happened to him. In UP, in a fire at a hospital in Jhansi, 10 kids died. Despite that, his rallies in Maharashtra didn't stop," the Congress president said.
Kharge took potshots at PM Narendra Modi for holding rallies for state-level elections.
This is an election for assembly and not to elect the prime minister of the country, he said, adding that his (Modi's) "thirst for authority" is unsatiated.
He slammed Modi for not visiting strife-torn Manipur and instead travelling abroad.
"Modi was here till yesterday. Today he is abroad. Manipur is burning, people are dying, adivasi women are disrespected, and women are raped but Modi never visited Manipur. He is on foreign tours. Today he is also visiting a country. I want to tell him first to look after your home. Make the country strong first. You can go anywhere later," Kharge added.
He questioned the output of Modi's meetings with Donald Trump, Pakistan's prime minister, and presidents of Russia and China from India's perspective.
The 83-year-old leader said his age didn't stop him from supporting the Congress' ideology and meeting people.
"There are leaders who were given positions by the party and benefited. We are not criticising anyone but if the Congress party is giving you everything, you should not betray it," said Kharge in an apparent dig at Vishal Patil.
Kharge said the Congress didn't want any rift in the family of (former chief minister) late Vasantdada Patil, who hailed from Sangli.
"I was told that the Lok Sabha MP from Sangli (Vishal Patil) won with the support of Congress party and Congress party has re-inducted him with respect," he said.
Kharge said he respects the woman candidate who is contesting as an Independent because of her association with Congress.
"I had promised and told Ramesh Chennithala (Maharashtra Congress incharge) that we will offer whatever she wants after the elections. We sent Chennithala and KC Venugopal to talk to them as we did not want any rift in Vasantdada Patil's house and Sangli," he added.
Kharge said his assurances, however, didn't work.
Jayashree Patil, from former chief minister Vasantdada Patil’s family, has entered the fray as an independent candidate from Sangli against Congress nominee Prithviraj Patil.
"It is difficult to wake up those people who are pretending to sleep," Kharge added.
