NEW DELHI: In a bid to promote communal harmony and peace, Yashpal Saxena, the father of the deceased Ankit Saxena hosted an iftar get together on Sunday in his memory.
Yashpal, who had earlier appealed not to give the murder of his son a communal colour, organised the iftar with the help of his neighbour Mohammad Izhar Alam under the banner ‘The Ankit Saxena Trust’, set up by Ankit’s father.
“Ankit was killed by a Muslim. But that doesn’t mean all Muslims are the same. I hope harmony is maintained,” he told media.
Former bureaucrat and activist Harsh Mander, Anjali Bhardwaj and Dr. Kafeel Ahmad Khan,the suspended paediatrician of Gorakhpur and several other well-wishers and good Samaritans were also in attendance apart from Ankit’s family, neighbours and friends.
Mander said, “This is a message for humanity… many of us are not fasting but when we sit together and eat, it sends a message that we are brothers and sisters,” he said, reported HT.
Speaking to The Quint, Dr Kafeel, said:
“Despite everything that Yashpal ji has gone through, he has sent a very powerful message by organising this Iftar. I have only come to show my support.”
Meet Mr Yashpal Saxena whose young son #AnkitSaxena was allegedly killed by the family members of his Muslim girl friend. Mr Yashpal, who had earlier appealed not to give the murder of his son a communal colour, today organised an Iftar get together to promote communal harmony. pic.twitter.com/PNSBXHOhlV
— Syed Laraib Neyazi 💙 (@LaraibNeyazi) June 3, 2018
Ankit,23, a freelance wedding photographer was allegedly brutally murdered in west Delhi’s Khyala area on February 1 by the family members of his Muslim girlfriend, as they were against the relationship.
Thereafter, the police arrested the woman’s father Akbar Ali, mother, Shahnaaz, a juvenile younger brother and uncle Mohd. Salim on February 2.