New Delhi: The Army Monday released a picture of an ‘Iftaar Milan’ hosted for two villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, days after social media trolling allegedly forced it to delete a tweet on an iftaar gathering.
“Bonhomie between Soldier and the Awaam (people) at its best,” stated the tweet posted by the official handle of the Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Kashmir & Ladakh.
#IndianArmy organised #Iftaar Milan for Line of Control Villages of Katwar and Dappal in #Macchal Sector
Bonhomie between Soldier and the Awaam at its best.#IndianArmyPeoplesArmy @diprjk @ddnewsSrinagar @ChinarcorpsIA @NorthernComd_IA #JammuAndKashmir #Kashmir #Ramazan pic.twitter.com/aKC2Swewee— PRO Defence Srinagar (@PRODefSrinagar) April 25, 2022
Last week, the picture of an iftaar gathering organised by the Army in Jammu & Kashmir’s Doda district, posted by the ‘PRO Defence Jammu’ handle, was allegedly pulled down following trolling by social media users.
The tweet was posted with the caption — “Keeping alive the traditions of secularism.” To this, the controversial Sudarshan TV Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke reacted by asking if “this illness has entered the Indian Army as well”.
अब यह बीमारी भारतीय सेना में भी घुस गईं हैं? दुःखद … https://t.co/AiRkdLUUBl
— Suresh Chavhanke “Sudarshan News” (@SureshChavhanke) April 21, 2022
An annual ritual
Both the Twitter handles in question are managed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and represent the Jammu-and Kashmir/Ladakh-based formations of the Army.
Iftaar parties are hosted by the Indian Army every year during the month of Ramzan in far-off villages by inviting local residents for meals and refreshments after sunset. The gatherings are aimed at bringing people together as part of outreach initiatives in the restive region.
On 16 April, the Chinar Corps organised an iftaar party for the local residents at Badami Bagh Cantonment for the first time after the Covid pandemic. A total of 200 people — including politicians and police personnel — were present at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Chinar Corps General Officer Commanding (GoC) Lt Gen. D.P. Pandey hailed the bonhomie, harmony and respect that Kashmiri communities have for each other.
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Source: The Print
