Congress Wants Ramzan Packs For Poor Muslims

The Congress on Friday demanded that the Telangana government distribute free Ramzan packs consisting of Sevaiyyan, sugar, milk and ghee, too, to poor Muslims along with the rice and essential items which are being distributed through the ration shops.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President & MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy and TPCC Minorities Department Chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail, in an open letter to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said that poor Muslims were not having money to buy the items required to prepare sheer-khorma for Eid-ul-Fitr.

"The continuous lockdown for the last 54 days has ruined the poor and middle class Muslims. They have lost all their sources of income, and hence are dependent on the ration being provided by the government. Instead of just supplying rice and dal, the state government should restore supply of all other items at fair price shops. It should also provide Ramzan packs to all poor Muslims, with or without ration cards, through the ration shops," they demanded.

The Congress leaders pointed out that the state government had allocated Rs 66 crore towards a Dawat-e-Iftar and another Rs 1.83 crore towards an iftar/dinner to be hosted by the Chief Minister in the Annual Budget for 2020-21. Since there were no chances of holding iftar parties at mosques or a Dawat-e-Iftar by the Chief Minister now, it was advisable to use the allocated funds to feed the poor and hungry Muslims, they said.

They also said that it was customary for the state government to provide an additional 1 kg of sugar during festivals like Deepawali, Eid etc. They demanded that the state government therefore prepare a special Ramzan pack and distribute it among all deserving beneficiaries before the Eid-ul-Fitr.

Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on May 25 or 26 this year.