Srinagar, Aug 28: Many iftaar parties were hosted by politicians and top Army and police officials during the past few days.
 Most parties comprised top dignitaries and high profile guests, including mediamen. “Last year a very few iftaar parties were hosted in the holy month of Ramadan as Valley was in a midst of a turmoil,” said a politician.
 “This year situation is better that’s why the number of iftaar parties has increased,” he added.
 However, some people were cynical about men in power hosting iftaar parties only for a certain class. “Only influential people were invited to such parties and it is just an extravagance. Had officials and politicians invited common people they would have come to know about the ground realities,” said an analyst.
 “There has been a trend in the Kashmir Valley that people distribute, biryani, fruits and juices during iftaar time. Go to any hospital of the Valley you will see someone or other distributing something. In Masjids people make arrangements for iftaar voluntarily,” said Nazir Ahmed Lone, a social activist.  
 Recently the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar based Chinar Corps Lieutenant General Atta Muhammad Hasnain participated in an iftaar party in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. “The GOC had asked the Army unit to invite local people for the party. The GOC interacted with them. They discussed various issues with him. It was entirely a different experience both for the Army and the locals,” said an Army official.
 “On the instructions of the GOC Army units located in different  villages across the Valley hosted iftaar parties for locals,” the official said. “This gesture has helped to bridge the trust deficit between Army and locals.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST