In the packed Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan where political leaders cutting across party lines, diplomats and senior government officials had gathered to attend the Iftar hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conspicuous by his absence.
The Prime Minister, who was extended an invitation, did not attend the annual ritual as he was meeting with the Chief Ministers of the north-eastern States late on Wednesday evening.
Mr. Modi, who does not host Iftar gatherings like his predecessors, was not present for the get-together even last year.
The BJP was, however, represented by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and Union Minister for Minority Affairs Najma Heptullah. After the Namaz-e-Maghrib prayers got over, guests were led to the elaborate dining room, where President Mukherjee was joined by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha P.J. Kurien, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
The crowd puller, however, was the Ambassador of Iran in India Gholamreza Ansari. Guests made a beeline to congratulate the diplomat on the recently concluded nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers.
Incidentally, the room where the Iranian Ambassador stood accepting compliments has a breathtaking mural of Fath Ali Shah of Iran, on a horse hunting surrounded by his 22 sons, covering the centre of the ceiling. The mural is a gift of the Shah of Iran to King George the IV.
Across the room with gold gildings, conversations peppered with political talk could be heard over a sumptuous feast attended by senior political leaders like Sharad Yadav(JDU), Derek O’Brien (TMC), Satish Misra (BSP), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Sayeed, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar (NCP) and former Chief Minister of J&K Omar Abdullah.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was present as well as was Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung.
Unlike the Iftar gatherings hosted by leaders, which are often used as platforms for sending out political messages, the event in Rashtrapati Bhavan is perceived as a “social affair”.
“These gatherings are not for any political or religious purposes. Over time they have evolved as a gesture that is shown for those fasting during the holy month of Ramzan. Most Presidents barring Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam have hosted Iftar over the years,” said an official.
Dr. Kalam had discontinued the practice of hosting Iftar parties in Rashtrapati Bhavan; opting instead to give the money spent on hosting the annual ritual to orphanages. The parties were resumed by former President Pratibha Patil when she assumed office in 2007.
