Iftar parties promote unity among political leaders in J&K

In Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Iftar parties are bringing political leaders together during Ramadan. These gatherings are fostering a spirit of camaraderie after a year marked by heated political debates. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti have already hosted Iftar parties in Jammu. More celebrations are planned in Kashmir this week. These events are seen as a chance for leaders, even rivals, to come together in a friendly atmosphere. Over the weekend, Mehbooba Mufti hosted an Iftar party in Jammu that included Omar Abdullah and National Conference President Farooq Abdullah. Their attendance was notable, considering the usual tensions between their parties in the assembly. “It was courtesy only. All political parties were invited,” said PDP leader Waheed ur Rehman Parra. Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary also held an Iftar party attended by various party leaders. Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari hosted another gathering in Srinagar. This week, more Iftar parties are planned, including one by Chief Minister Abdullah in Srinagar. However, some, like the Awami Ittehad Party, criticize these gatherings as hypocritical. They argue that the leaders, while appearing united over Iftar, remain divided on important public issues. The spokesman, Inam-ul-Nabi, questioned if this unity would lead to real action on issues like political prisoners and unemployment. Political analyst Shahid Ahmad noted that despite their differences, many leaders maintain personal friendships. He emphasized that Iftar parties serve as social events that help improve political images. Although security agencies used to hold Iftar parties, their numbers declined after the change in Article 370 in 2019. Recently, the Army's 19 Infantry Division held an Iftar in Baramulla, inviting local political leaders and civil society members.