New Delhi: Muslim Rashtra Manch, a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has put to rest the controversy surrounding the RSS’s refusal to a request to hold an Iftar party at its headquarters in Nagpur, saying that the demand was “fundamentally flawed”.
“There is no common cultural ground that Muslims should have an iftar at RSS headquarters,” said Mohammad Afzal, the national convener of the MSM.
Afzal said that Iftar is always hosted by the one who throws the party. “Islam doesn’t ask someone else to host the party for Muslims. The request by the Maharashtra unit leader at Nagpur to the RSS is fundamentally flawed on this count and he has been told about it,” he added.
The controversy had erupted after a Muslim swayamsevak, Maharashtra Manch convener Mohammad Faruq Sheikh, requested the RSS Nagpur Mahanagar Sanghchalak Rajesh Loya to host an iftar party on the premises of the Smruti Mandir of the Sangh. Currently, the third year training camp is going on at Smruti Mandir.
His request was declined by the RSS. It said “no parties can be hosted there.”
Afzal said that after this controversy, he would initiate an inquiry against the swayamsevak who made the request.
“This is not a correct demand, how could you ask someone to open doors for iftar. It is a karyalaya and it works for a purpose. It is not our home. Tomorrow, I will come to you and say give me your house to host my daughter’s wedding dinner,” said Afzal.
He added that Muslims have different diet during Ramazan and even regularly. “We eat meat and eggs, this cultural aspect should have also been kept in mind. There is no such cultural link. Also it makes no sense, even Muslims would not open their doors for someone’s religious gathering.”
“There is no plan for an iftar or an Eid Milan at RSS headquarter,” he confirmed.
The Maharashtra swayamsewak, while making the request, thought the gesture would have sent a message of brotherhood across especially at this time, when there are talks of growing intolerance in India.
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