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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We are together at home: Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar
Mumbai (PTI): Former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said that he and nephew Ajit Pawar are together as a family, but made it clear that the latter was heading a different political party.
“Gharat tari ekatrach ahet (we are together at home least),” the veteran politician said at a press conference at Chiplun in coastal Konkan region.
He was responding to a query about the demand from “various quarters in the state” that the uncle-nephew duo should come together once again.
In July last year, Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle to join the Eknath Shinde-led government in the state as deputy chief minister. Of late, there has been speculation over his continuation in the ruling alliance.
Asked about Ajit Pawar’s recent remarks the decision to make his wife Sunetra Pawar contest the Lok Sabha polls against Supriya Sule in Baramati was a mistake, the veteran politician said, “He is in a different party. Why should we comment on decisions taken by another party?”
Asked if the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of NCP (SP), Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) had decided its chef ministerial face, Pawar said, “I don’t think that it is an urgent issue at the moment”.
When elections were held after the Emergency, Morarji Desai’s name as PM candidate was not disclosed before polling, he added.
“Our (MVA) attempt is to give a progressive alternative in Maharashtra with help of other parties like Samajwadi Party and Peasants and Workers Party,” he said.
“Our observation is that the people of Maharashtra have made up their mind to give us (MVA) a chance in the ensuing elections,” he said.
Asked about Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu’s claim that sub-standard ghee with 'animal fat' was used to make prasad laddoos at Tirupati temple during Jaganmohan Reddy's tenure as CM, Pawar said, “If anything was mixed, it is very wrong and action should be taken against those involved”.
