Beyond Political Divide: When BJP, Congress leaders shared stage to award Tazia makers

Indian Express

a day ago

On Sunday, two senior leaders, one each from the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, attended a Tazia procession being carried out by the Muslim community members on the occasion of Muharram in Surat. During the procession, Gujarat BJP Chief and Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Paatil attended the procession with Mayor Daxesh Mavani, City BJP President Paresh Patel, and the party's municipal corporators, among others. Tazias with best designs were handed out trophies by Paatil. Former Surat Mayor and senior Congress leader Kadir Pirzada shared the stage with Paatil as the latter recalled instances from the past such as allotment of a piece of land for installing a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj when Pirzada was the Surat mayor or when, following their joint efforts, two public events — celebration of the birth anniversary of the Maratha warrior king and Tazia processions — were held peacefully in Limbayat area of the city. Meanwhile, a former Congress MLA of Savarkundla in Amreli district attended a Tazia procession, a video of which went viral on social media. Speaking to The Indian Express, Dudhat said, 'As a public leader and someone belonging to a party that follows secularism, I participate in both Tazia procession as well as festivals of other religions every year. The video which went viral is of Limdi Chowk, in Savarkundla town of Amreli district, on Sunday afternoon. As a public leader, I got an invitation and not only did I remain present, I also participated in the rituals. During Hindu festivals, the Muslims also took an active part, giving water and soft drinks to the people participating in the Hindu procession.' He further said, 'It is a norm in villages in Gujarat where both Hindus and Muslims participate in each other's religious activities. I have done nothing new.'