Saying no to political iftars

By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net

Life of Muslims in India is all about symbols. Since independence India has done little for its Muslim population except some symbolic gesture in the name of minority affairs. Whether it is about their wakf, historical mosques, making them presidents and vice-presidents, declaring Prophet Mohammed’s birthday as a national holiday, Hajj subsidy, appointing enquiry commissions that never see the light of the day. Of course, Muslim leaders were willing accomplice in all this acting as brokers to garner all the benefits for themselves in the name of the community. It served the ruling class as well since it gives them nice photo-ops with Muslims.

One such symbolic gesture is seen only in the holy month of Ramadan. From Presidents to local MPs and MLAs all vie with one another to throw iftar parties during the month of Ramadan or Ramzan as we like to call it in India. Lavish dinners parties are organized in the name of iftar and hungry Muslim leaders throng to these gatherings to get closer to the political power of the day. This is the only opportunity they have all year long to get close to the ruling party and have their photo taken with them.

For the politicians this is a great opportunity to have pictures taken with some Muslim looking people, which can be used for later campaigns and also show that they are friendly to Muslims without the hassle of actually doing anything for them. It is a win-win situation for everyone that media has highlighted over the years and it is this hunger for free publicity in Muslim publications that feeds the beats of political iftar.

Inquilab, one of the leading Urdu newspapers has taken a stand that it will not publish any news about political iftar parties. Inquilab editor Shahid Latif on Wednesday wrote that enough is enough and Muslims can not be taken granted and by deciding not to publish news about iftar parties Inquilab is reaffirming its solidarity with millions of Muslim who are fed up with this symbolism.

TwoCircles.net, which is a news website for Indian Muslims gladly follow the lead taken by Inquilab on this front and we also refuse to publish any news about political iftar parties. We call other publications to do the same and put an end to these parties which are all politics and devoid of any spirit of Ramadan.

Your vote on political iftar parties: http://www.twocircles.net/polls/your_opinion_about_political_iftar_parti...