Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 7: In an effort to stop coronavirus infection from spreading, the organization of Muslim merchants has decided to keep their clothes, fancy, footwear and other stores located around three commercial complexes at Hampankatta closed till Eid Ul Fitr (May 25).

President of KTA Youth Forum, which happens to be an organization of Muslim merchants, Moushir Ahmed Samanige, said that under the leadership of the forum, it has been decided not to open the showrooms numbering around 300 located in Hampankatta area till Eid. "Not only have the Muslims, but businessmen from other religions too have extended support to our decision. They have informed us that they will not open shops till any further decision is made on the issue," he clarified. Most of the shops referred by him are located in Kunil, Tokyo and Akbar commercial complexes at Hampankatta.

He said that a number of Muslim businessmen from Dakshina Kannada district have decided to follow this decision. He added that the businessmen have, through this gesture, extended their support to the fight against coronavirus infection.

He noted that the government has extended lockdown till May 17. He said that festival preparations will be in full swing immediately upon the lockdown ends. Therefore, a decision as above has been taken, he stated.

Before that, Udupi Qazi Bekal Ibrahim Musliyar, had urged the district administration to extend lockdown till the end of Ramzan. In his message, he had said that huge rush of people willing to make purchases for celebrating Eid Ul Fitr in a grand way is expected as people will be eager to buy clothes, footwear, fancy etc. Therefore, he had advised people to celebrate the festival in a simple way.

Awareness about this message is being spread through social media. People are being encouraged to spend the money they have set aside for festivities, by donating the same to the poor, for the education of the poor, and for helping the distressed people.

Ullal Sayyid Madani Dargah Committee has also requested people to divert the money the people would have otherwise spent for the Eid, to set up a dialysis centre at Ullal primary health centre for helping the people from the area.