By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 16 July 2015: The Congress party has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not attending the Iftar party hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee here Wednesday evening despite being in Delhi.
“Iftar party at the president’s residence is like a national event. However, the prime minister has chosen not to attend it. This reflects how he thinks,” Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said.
He said Modi talks of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ (With all, growth of all) and it should reflect in all his actions.
Bharatiya Janata Party clarified that PM Modi was preoccupied with other important programs.
“Modi has a meeting with chief ministers of northeastern states on Wednesday (evening). He will chair a meeting with the chief ministers to discuss major developmental projects. He will also launch the ‘Skill India’ campaign in the evening,” BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.
President Pranab Mukherjee reading out his Ramzan message at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 15 July 2015. (Photo – PIB)
The President had hosted the Iftar at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The guest list included leaders of all major political parties, apart from diplomats. Some senior leaders of BJP and cabinet colleagues of PM Modi also attended the Iftar.
Dignitaries who attended the Iftar included Mohd. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India; Rajnath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs; Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information and Broadcasting; Najeeb Jung, Lt. Governor of NCT of Delhi; Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi; Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir; Sonia Gandhi; Sharad Yadav; Sharad Pawar and others.
Let us spread love, affection and mutual trust among all: President
At the Iftar event, President Pranab Mukherjee read out his Ramzan message.
The President said: “Ramzan, a month of blessings and forgiveness reminds us of our duties towards the poor and less-privileged as well as the need for charity and generosity towards all. Let us during this holy month pledge to spread love, affection and mutual trust among all. May the spirit of Ramzan instill in each one of us a sense of unity and pride in the composite culture of India”.
