Activists write to Fadnavis about ‘iftaar party’ at Sahyadri guest house in Mumbai

The iftaar party being organised at Sahyadri guest house on June 4, as part of the month of Ramzan, has got mired in controversy as some activists raised questions over the misuse of the government guest house.

The party is supposed to be organised by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliate Rashtriya Muslim Manch (RMM) at the Sahyadri guest house at Malabar Hill. RMM has claimed that it is a meeting convened by state minorities welfare department and not a special iftaar party.

Right to information (RTI) activist Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh and advocate Adil Khatri, in a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Governor, questioned the misuse of the state guest house. They said that as per the government resolution (GR) issued on July 24, 2015, no public meeting, workshop or gathering should be held there. “We demand an inquiry into the role of the protocol department, which looks after the guest house, for permitting RMM to hold the iftaar party,” the letter said. Shaikh said the party has been organised to garner support of Muslims. “We don’t expect the CM to act on the complaint, but hope that Governor takes immediate action.”

Meanwhile, the RMM has said it is not an iftaar party, but a meeting of minority communities. “It is a meeting convened by the minorities welfare department to discuss welfare schemes for minorities. Representatives of minority communities including Buddhist, Jain, Christians, will participate in the meeting followed by an iftaar,” said Irfan Ali of RMM.