Naqvi hosts first Iftar party in four years

New Delhi: After holding out of iftar, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi hosted one on Wednesday, calling it 'Iftar for dignity'.

More than 300 Muslim women were invited from across the nation, including the triple talaq victims.

"Our government's aim is social engineering, not political engineering," Naqvi told mediapersons, making a scathing attack on opposition Congress, for calling all other opposition stalwarts at its iftar party.

"We want to the social upliftment and empowering Muslim women," the minister added. The government is also set to form Panchayats state-wise to fulfil its aim.

In a major move the government for the first time deputed a woman officer for Haj this year. Moina Benazir is currently deputed in the Defence ministry and a member of the advisory board of the Air Force. "I have taken precaution, making sure that I will not be alone and carrying Hijab, which I never wore," she said.

Benazir has been appointed after a round of interview as in the last year reaching out to Muslim women, the incumbent government attempted at facilitating women's travel for Haj pilgrimage without a male companion. They will be leaving on June 27.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Prakash Javadekar, MJ Akbar, Harsh Vardhan, and Ravi Shankar Prasad were also present.