Help U'khand victims, avoid iftar parties: Ajmer Dargah chief

Spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Saturday requested political and non-political groups in the country to avoid holding public Roza iftar parties in view of the recent Uttarakhand tragedy.

"The Uttarakhand disaster which claimed lives of countless pilgrims is a big tragedy of the country so public iftar parties should be avoided. Lakhs of rupees are spent on such public iftar parties and this year this amount should be used to help the victim and their rehabilitation," Khan said in a statement in Jaipur.

Iftar parties are held in the holy month of Ramzan.

"Union and the state governments and different political and non-political groups should avoid holding Iftar parties this year in view of the tragedy and should use the fund for victims. "This will be the service of humanity which is the message of Islam," the dargah dewan said.

Image: Muslims break their fast during Ramazan at Jama Masjid in New Delhi

Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters