Hyderabad: Prominent activists and civil society members have called on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to cancel the ₹70 crore budget allocation for state-sponsored Iftar and Christmas feasts, urging instead that the funds be redirected toward minority welfare programs.
A resolution passed by activists condemned the use of “Minority Welfare” funds for government-organized Iftar events, arguing that such expenditures divert resources away from crucial initiatives like education, employment, and social upliftment. They labeled the event a “lavish, shameless political show-off” rather than a solemn religious gathering.
Former State Minority Commission Chairman Abid Rasool Khan joined activists Lubna Sarwath, Anwarullah Khan, Syed Ismail, and others in demanding a reallocation of funds. In a letter to CM Reddy, they argued that extravagant state-sponsored Iftars contradict Islamic teachings.
“Hosting grand Iftar parties is not an Islamic practice. The Quran explicitly discourages extravagance,” the letter stated. The activists proposed reallocating funds to:
Telangana Minorities Study Circle (S.H. 29) – Increase budget beyond the current ₹4 crore.
Center for Education Development of Minorities (S.H. 23) – Enhance funding beyond ₹3 crore.
Training and Employment for Minorities (S.H. 06) – Expand allocation beyond ₹30 crore.
The activists criticized Telangana’s 2024-25 budget, which designates ₹66 crore for “Dawat-e-Iftar & Christmas Feast” and ₹3.24 crore for “Iftar/Dinner State Function” under the Minority Welfare Department. They called this an unjustified expenditure at a time when students struggle to receive scholarships and the state faces financial constraints.
“This public extravagance, introduced by the previous TRS government, is an insult to the poor and unemployed youth of Telangana,” the activists asserted.
The resolution, signed by multiple social leaders, urged CM Reddy to discontinue government-funded Iftar feasts and instead focus on long-term welfare measures for minority communities.
