AP CM to Attend State-Level Iftar Event

 Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu would participate in the state-level Iftar programme arranged by the state government here on March 27 and address the Muslim faithful.

Naidu has asked officials to make elaborate arrangements and invite Muslim elders and leaders to the event. Telugu Desam, he said, was with Muslim minorities ever since the party’s inception and its governments had implemented numerous welfare and developmental programmes for Muslims.

“District collectors must organise Iftar programmes in every district. There too, invite Muslim elders, people’s representatives and minority leaders,” Naidu said and called for release of funds for these official programmes.

Following this, minorities welfare department secretary Harshavardhan issued orders sanctioning funds for the events.

Minority welfare minister N. MD Farooq said, “The government would make Iftar arrangements at the state and district levels during the holy month of Ramzan. A fund of Rs 1.50 crore has been released for this by Harsh Vardhan on advice from the CM.”

Farooq said, “As part of the evening fast-ending event during the month of Ramzan, we are organising the state-level government-hosted Iftar programme on March 27 at the A Plus Convention Center on MG Road in Vijayawada.”

The collectors would organise the district-level programme on a day convenient to them in the next 4-5 days.

The government has allocated Rs 75 lakh for the state-level programme. The remaining Rs 75 lakh has been allocated district-wise The funds have been allocated for Iftar based on the population of Muslim minorities in the districts.

A sum of Rs 1.50 lakh is allotted for the programme in Srikakulam, as much for Vizianagaram, Rs 1 lakh for Manyam, Rs 1 lakh for Alluri Seetharamaraju district, 2 lakh for Anakapalle, Rs 3 lakh each for Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, Bapatla, Palnadu and Prakasham, Rs 4 lakh each for Guntur and Kurnool, Rs 5 lakh each for Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore and Nandyal and Rs 3.50 lakh for Anantapur.

These apart, an allotment of Rs 3 lakh each has been made for Sri Sathya Sai district, Chittoor and Sri Balaji district, 3.50 lakh for YSR Kadapa and Rs 4 lakh for Annamayya district.