Mumbai, December 21: A section of the Muslim community has demanded that the proposed new airport at Navi Mumbai should be named in the memory of veteran freedom fighter Ashfaqullah Khan who was hanged by the British regime in 1927.
The demand was made by Rehmat Foundation, an NGO, at a function organised on the occasion of Ashfaqullah’s 83rd martyrdom anniversary on November 19 here.
Dr Anwar Amir Ansari, President of Rehmat Foundation, said members of the Muslim Community had played an important role in the freedom struggle but their services had been forgotten.
In the name of terrorism, the community was being targeted and so it was necessary to make the people aware about the contribution of Muslims in the freedom struggle, Dr Anwar, who is a also well known homoeopathy physician, said.
Dr Anwar also demanded that the state government should issue a postal stamp to commemorate the services of Ashfaqullah Khan.
Addressing the gathering, Former Congress MLA Sada Sarvankar, demanded that a memorial be erected to honour Late Ashfaqullah Khan who laid down his life for the freedom of the nation. He said naming Mahim Chowpatty after Khan would be a befitting tribute to the freedom fighter.
Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, Chandra Iyenger, said Ashfaqullah was a youth icon for Muslim community and the younger population should emulate him. She said Ashfaqullah was hanged to death two months after his marriage and his sacrifice to the nation shall always be remembered.
–PTI