Speaking at an iftar party, the Chief Minister cautioned people of the state against attempts allegedly being made to divide the state on the basis of caste and religion.
Syed Ali Mujtaba | Clarion India
CHENNAI – With Ramadan the season of iftar parties has begun in Chennai. The DMK Minority Welfare Rights Division organised a gala iftar party at Ramachandra Convention Center in Thiruvanmiyur here on Sunday.
The iftar event was a DMK show with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin as a star attraction. He presided over the event attended by most of the DMK ministers and luminaries from Muslim community and also the party’s sympathisers.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “Attempts are being made to divide Tamil Nadu by caste and religion. Some people want to stop the development of the state by dividing us. The people of Tamil Nadu should realise this and stop any kind of divisive politics in the state.”
“Only a peaceful state can achieve the heights of development,” he added.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister cherished the bond his late father, M Karunanidhi, shared with the Muslims of Tamil Nadu. It was the DMK patriarch who coined the word “Bhai”, recalled Stalin, adding “Islam was the favorite subject of Karunanidhi.”
Addressing the gathering in Tamil with the Islamic salutation ‘As Salam Alaikum,’ MK Stalin said; “When the AIADMK voted in favour of the CAA in the Parliament, we moved a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly opposing the CAA and also did a signature campaign against it,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. M H Jawahirullah, MLA and leader of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham (TMMK), an ally of the DMK, lashed out at the politics of polarisation pursued by the BJP government at the Centre. He noted the party in power in Delhi has taken oath on the Constitution of India but in reality, it’s presiding over the defacement of our Constitution.
Prof. Jawahirullah said the “Iftar tradition was even followed by BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who recognised the plural nature of the country and organised iftar at his residence to send the message that BJP is not an anti-Muslim party.
“Somehow a wrong message is going to the Muslims when the Prime Minister and the President of India have disassociated with the iftar tradition,” Jawahirullah said.
Extolling Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, the MLA from Papanasam Constituency, said the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol of the DMK will guide the country in the 2024 elections and asked the people to stand by the side of Ambedkar’s constitution, the vision of our forefathers of freedom struggle.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) National President K M Khader Mohiuddin called the plural and secular values the guiding path of the development of the country.
“Muslim community is well looked after under the DMK rule and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin is steadfast in his commitment to protect the Muslims of the state, said IUML Leader.
Dr. Mastan, ex-MP and State Secretary Minority Wing of the DMK Party, who was the master of the ceremony, gracefully conducted the event and wrapped it up well in time for the breaking of the fast. He introduced a saintly figure, Mufti Mohammed Salahuddin Ayyubi, Chief Kazi of Tamil Nadu, who recited “dua” (supplication) for breaking of the fast.
The highlight of the function was the ‘Maghrib Azaan’ rendered by E Kudus, a DMK functionary from Chennai that pierced the hearts of all the momins (faithful) present there.
Watch the full event at –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KShQO1D6pU
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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at [email protected]
