NCP organizes Iftar party in Pune's Hanuman Mandir

Pune, April 16: On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, the Nationalist Congress Party organised an Iftar party inside a Hanuman Temple in Maharashtra’s Pune.

 

 

NCP leader Ravindra Malvadkar organized the Iftar party at Sakhalipeer Talim Rashtriya Maruti Mandir in Pune at 6:30 PM on Friday. The Muslims in attendance broke their fast on Friday by eating prasad on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti organised by the NCP in Pune.

 

The NCP leader, while speaking to media, said he has been organising such Iftar parties inside Hindu temples for the last 35 years. "We have been doing it for the last 35 years, Pawar sahib (Sharad Pawar) has taught us not to become casteist and instead asked us to become a Rashtravaadi," added Malvadkar.

 

 

The NCP leader claimed that they would offer dates to Hindus instead of Modak on the Ganpati festival, which also comes in the month of Ramzan and Muslim people here are offered Modak to break Roza. “Every year, we organise an Iftaar party on unity for our Muslim brothers. If the Ganpati festival comes in the month of Ramzan we offer dates to Ganpati instead of Modak and Muslim people here are offered modak to break Roza," said Malvadkar.

 

 

The iftar party comes after the recent war of words going on between MNS and the Maharashtra government. It is a counter to Raj Thackeray’s recent demand to remove loudspeakers at the mosques.

 

 

Besides, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray is on a two-day day visit to Pune. He is scheduled to attend Maha Aarti at Hanuman temple and will also chant Hanuman Chalisa with MNS workers in the city, on Saturday. During his public rally in Thane, he had asked the government to remove loudspeakers from mosques before May 3 and said that his party workers will play Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques if the government does not take action.

 

Raj Thakeray-led MNS has been speaking on to launch a state-wide agitation and play the Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques if the Maharashtra government failed to act against loudspeakers used at mosques by May 3. It also accused the NCP of indulging in caste-based politics.