Society
Sikhs host Iftaar dinner for Muslims in Srinagar
Srinagar: To promote composite culture of Kashmir and brotherhood between different communities, members of Sikh community hosted an Iftaar dinner for Muslims, here, on Sunday evening.
The Iftaar was hosted by Kashmir Sikh Education and Charitable Trust (KSECT) at Hotel Raddison here with an objective to promote composite culture of Kashmir and brotherhood between the two communities.
Besides politicians, business honchos and social activists, a large number of people participated in this extra-ordinary event. From Member Parliament Farooq Abdullah to Chairman Jammu Kashmir Peoples Movement Shah Faesal, everybody who attended this event praised the organisers. Business community leaders, traders, bureaucrats, police officials and doctors participated in the Iftaar and offered prayers. The prayers were led by HOD Urology SKIMS Prof (Dr) Muhammad Salim Wani.
Chairman KSECT, Baldev Singh Raina said, “It was a token of love from Sikhs to our Muslim brethren. We have braved all odds together in Kashmir and will continue to do so in the future. Sikh community has always stood for the Kashmiriyat and brotherhood. Our aim was to further strengthen it by organising this event.”
“In future, we will continue to organise such events as there is need of spreading brotherhood. Kashmiris have passed through turbulent times and only helping each other will help us in coming out of the problems we face,” said Raina who is also MD and CEO Peaks Group.
Elaborating Raina said “as a society our togetherness is our shield to beat any nefarious designs.” “From ages, Sikhs and Muslims in Kashmir have shared history, culture. We continue to do so and participate in events hosted by each other. Muslim brethren have shown love and affection for Sikhs and vice-versa.”
He said the event is part of celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Devji. ” Awal Allah noor upaya, kudrat ke sabh bande. Ek noor te sabh jug upjiya kaun bhale ko mande. (Every human is equal in front of God) So Kyon Manday Aikheye Jit Jane Rajan (We have to treat everyone equally irrespective of religions, creed and caste,” Raina said. He said the organisation is organising a seminar on Kashmiriyat at Kashmir University next month.
Members of Muslim community who participated in the event hailed the Sikh community for their kindness and generosity.
“It is the Sikhs who came forward when Kashmiri students were attacked in other states after the Pulwama incident. They organised free lunches and facilitated movement of students back home. Similarly in Kashmir, since ages they have always stood with Kashmiris,” said Nazir Ahmad, who attended the event.
Chairman PHD Chamber Kashmir-Chapter Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya said that such kind of events will help in further strengthening the bond of love and brotherhood between Sikhs and Muslims in Kashmir.
Among prominent who attended the iftar party included Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi, former ministers Syed Altaf Bukhari, Muhammad Dilawar Mir, former MLA Yawar Dilawar Mir, NC leaders Nasir Aslam Wani, Nazir Gurezi, Shammi Oberoi and Farooq Shah, BJP leader Khalid Jehangir besides HoD Medicine SKIMS Prof (Dr) Parvez Kaul and member PHD Chamber Kashmir-Chapter Vicky Shaw.
Chairman JK Bank Parvez Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Chaudhary, ADGP PHQ A G Mir (IPS), secretary Higher Education Talat Parvez, Directors Industries Mehmood Shah, Director SRTC Bilal Bhat, Director Sericuture Riyaz Wani, Director EDI Tufail Matoo, Director Horticulture Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Secretary BOPEE Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, ADC Budgam Khurshid Ahmad Sanai, and Vice-Chairman Kashmir Sikh Education and Charitable Trust Gurjeet Singh Dutta and its secretary Dr Bikram Singh besides its trustees and prominent members of Sikh community were also present.
