Saudi Gazette Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari emphasized that unity between Hindus and Muslims of India is a culture that has sustained the Indian credo of ‘unity among diversity' and it was more than evident in the recent Eid-Milap party. Ansari was the chief guest of the evening in the Indo Arab Friendship Foundation's Eid-Milap party in New Delhi's Hotel Ashoka recently. The Eid-Milap party was attended by more than 100 members of Parliament and several ministers of the present ruling party, leaders of various political parties, union ministers, ambassadors of various countries, diplomats, clerics, scholars, dignitaries from different walks of life and several Non-resident Indians. The founder of All India Minorities Forum and Indo Arab Friendship Foundation President Jaber Patel presided over the function. In his speech he said, "Peace in the country is not possible without the unity of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christians. The two Eid and the other festivals of India are the best platforms to strengthen mutual ties." Speaking on the occasion Ansari said, "India is a bouquet of people belonging to all religions, communities and various schools of thoughts. He was impressed by the function of Hindu-Muslim unity and said development and peace is impossible without Hindu-Muslim unity." "These kind of gatherings should be arranged in every city of the country to enhance and strengthen mutual ties and understanding between Hindus and Muslims," he added. Noted senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani, in an emotional speech, said that though he was born in a Hindu family he respects Islam very much and is very much impressed with the Seerah of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). "Prophet (PBUH) gave the message of peace, brotherhood, unity and respect to each other, which needs to be practiced," he said. Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's greeting was read during the program. Former BJP union minister Murli Manohar Joshi hailed the Hindu Muslim unity displayed during the function while former union Minority Welfare Minister Mrs. Najma Heptullah extended Eid greetings. Telangana Home Minister N Narsimah Reddy and former Governor Dr. Aziz Quraishi declared national harmony as the need of the hour. The Founder of All India Minorities Forum and India Arab Friendship Foundation President, Patel said, "Hindu-Muslim unity is the spirit of Indian democracy, the reason behind the gathering of these people from different culture, thoughts and sectors is to meet each other and to communicate freely on country's current situation." Union minsters Vijay Goel, Suresh Prabhu, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Vijay Samphal, Rajiv Pratap Rudi, Mahinder Nath Pandey, Sanjay Balan, Haribhai Chaudhry, Sadanannd Gouda, Ropendar Shawar, President Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar, CPM national General Secretary Sita Ram Yechuri, JDU's K.C. Tiyagi from Lok Sabha, National Secretary CPI D. Raja, and former central minister Rehman Khan attended. Members of parliament T. Dawinder Goud, Idress, Mrs. P. Renuka, Rajiv Gouda, Nazneen Farooq, Badru Dujja Khan, Mrs. Mumtaz, Sangeeta, Mohd. Faisal, Ahmed Hasan, Imran, E.T. Basheer, Anil Sawan, P. Gordhan Reddy, Anand Bhaskar, Venu Gopal, Ali Anwar, Nadeemul Haq, Majid Memon, Sirajuddin Ajmal, Qaisar Ali, president National Haj committee Haji Abdul Salam, Ashiq Ali, Mohd Salim, Jawid Ali Khan, Nesh Chandra Mishra, and Salim Chaudhry participated in the Eid-Milap party. Several justices from Supreme Court namely Justice Lekor, Justice Samleshwar, Justice Sapre, Justice R.C Misra, Justice Sitendra Kumar, ambassadors and diplomats from Asian and African countries like Afghanistan, Palestine, Jordan, Austria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Mongolia, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan were among the guests. Justice V. Eswaraiah, chairperson of National Commission for Backward Commission, delivered the welcome address while president Mango Guru Association Sabir Patel presented the guests with the flower bouquets. Prominent NRIs like Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Mir Arif Ali, Siraj Qadri (Saudi Arabian Airlines), Kabir Siddiqui, Qayyum Anwar, Jauhar Sarkar, director Doordarshan, Congress leader Khaleequr Rehman, Syed Noor, Dilawar Patel, Sajid Patel, Salman Irfan, Imtiyaz Patel, Feroz and several media person were also in attendance. All India Minorities Forum and India Arab Friendship Foundation organization's secretary Ateeq Siddiqui welcome the guests and proposed the vote of thanks.
