Jeddah: Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate the 75 years of Independence of India, at home and abroad. The Indian diplomatic missions have been organizing a series of events to celebrate the event, however, some individuals also joined the fray to show their patriotism.
However, they forgot a basic norm upon gathering and celebrations in Gulf countries where strict rules are in place.
An event to celebrate Indian Independence Day in the Saudi capital pushed a prominent Hyderabadi behind bars.
A leading restaurateur, who operates multi restaurants with ethnic Hyderabadi Biryani in Riyadh city, was detained on August 15 for celebrating Indian Independence Day. According to sources he was released nearly ten days after.
The Hyderabadi, a longtime resident and native of Santoshnagar in Hyderabad, had arranged an Independence Day party in one of his restaurants in Hai Al Wazarah district, also commonly known as Hara, where the Hyderabadi expatriate community concentrated.
As soon as the celebration started in the evening hours, sleuths raided the place and nabbed the Hyderabadi for organizing the gathering, sources said.
It is noteworthy to mention that any kind of large unauthorised assembly or gathering is not allowed in Saudi Arabia. Even diplomatic missions are required to take prior permission for organizing any public event.
In the past also, an Indian woman, who hails from Pune, along with her husband and children, was arrested for displaying the Indian national flag in holy Haram in Makkah and had to spend five days in jail before being released.
The NRI family, living in Riyadh, were visiting Makkah to perform Umrah. After completing the rituals in the early hours when the crowd of worshippers was relatively low, the family decided to take a photograph with the Holy Kaaba in the background, while displaying the Indian national flag.
| Posted by Sameer Khan | 
