President to host Iftar Party on Wednesday, all eyes set on Modi

New Delhi: Speculations are making down whether Narendra Modi will attend President’s Iftar Party to be hosted tomorrow as he had skipped it last year. President Mukherjee has invited Mr. Hamid Ansari, Mr. Modi, Leader of political parties, diplomats of Muslim countries, Ministers and other dignitaries.

Mr. Mukherjee has been hosting Iftar Party ever since he became President three years back at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Iftar parties have gained socio-political importance as occasions to connect with Muslim leaders. On such occasion bitter political rivalries are set aside. The latest precedent is the meeting of Arvind Kejriwal, CM of Delhi and Najeeb Jung, Lieutenant Governor was seen hugging each other.

Mr. A.B. Vajpayee who was PM belonging to BJP also hosted iftar parties. It is very strange that the present Govt. does not consider the importance hosting iftar parties. Mr. Modi, when he was CM of Gujarat did not hosting any iftar party. Ministers of Modi Cabinet also do not have plans to host iftar parties.

People say that former CM of UP late H.N. Bahuguna initiated iftar parties later, Ms. Indira Gandhi took up this idea in 1980 and introduced a chain of iftar parties to bring Muslim leaders and scholars together.