Delhi honour killing victim Ankit Saxena’s father host iftar party

NEW DELHI: Five months after Ankit Saxena was murdered by his Muslim girlfriend’s family in the by lanes of West Delhi, his bereaved family organised an iftar party in his memory on Sunday.

Ankit Saxena, a 23-year-old photographer from Raghuvir Nagar, was stabbed to death by his girlfriend’s family as they disapproved their inter-faith relationship.

It’s the first initiative taken under the ‘Ankit Saxena Trust’ established to help couples wanting to marry outside their faith.

ALSO READ | Don't want society where hatred is spread: Ankit Saxena's father on 'iftar'

The idea to host an iftar came from the family’s Muslim friends, who felt that doing so could mark the beginning of the trust’s campaign to promote peace and harmony, said Yashpal Saxena, Ankit’s father.  
The preparation for the event began almost two weeks ago. Every night the family and friend would meet and hold a discussion over it, Ankit Saxena’s cousin Ashish Dugal said.

Nafees Ahmed, who came with five other friends from Okhala to attend the iftar party said, “We all are here to support the family with their cause. One needs a big heart to take such a step to promote peace among communities rather than the hatred, which is prevailing in th rest of the country.”