KCR’s iftar party: Shia community threatens boycott; seeks change of date

Hyderabad: Shia community has threatened to boycott chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's iftar party if the date is not rescheduled.

KCR is hosting an iftar party at Lal Bahadur Stadium, Nampally, on April 12. The day falls on the 20th of Ramadan which is marked as the Martyrdom of Hazrat Syedna Ali ibn Abu Talib, the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammed.

It is a day of mourning for not only the Shias but other Muslims as well. The community has requested the authorities to change the date to respect the martyrdom of Hazrat Syedna Ali.

Secretary Shia Companions Syed Ali Jafery wrote to the CMO and Minority Welfare Department requesting to hold Iftar Party on any other day. He said the Shia community will be forced to maintain distance it as the entire community observes mourning on the day.

He said on this that the Shia community takes out processions. This day is very important for not only the Shia community but for the Sunni Community as Hazrat Syedna Ali ibn Abu Talib is considered the first Imam by the Shia Community while Sunni Community respects him as the fourth Caliphate.

“We are not happy because the government has not heeded our request,” he said.

A meeting of government officials of various departments was held which was chaired by Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali. The government has constituted different teams for the distribution of Invitation Cards, arrangements at L B Stadium, Food, and Iftar items, reception, and anchoring.

The members of the coordination committee will visit the LB Stadium on April 10 to finalize the arrangements.