India's oldest man protests against Jaipur blasts
20 May 2008, 1904 Hrs

Habib Miyan alias Rahim Khan, believed to be the oldest man in India, has refused to celebrate his 139th birthday in protest against the recent serial blasts in the Pink City, which claimed over 60 lives and injured over 200

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Jaipur, May 20 (ANI): Habib Miyan alias Rahim Khan, believed to be the oldest man in India, has refused to celebrate his 139th birthday in protest against the recent serial blasts in the Pink City, which claimed over 60 lives and injured over 200.

Habib Miyan, who has been declared the oldest man by the Limcaook of Records, expressed his grief for families who had lost their kith andin. He cursed perpetrators for the gory act of violence.

"For these people, only curse comes out of my heart. They have hurt so many hearts. May Allah hurt them in the same manner," said Khan.

Khan said that he has decided to organise a prayer meeting for those who lost their near and dear ones during serial blasts in the city last week.

His great grandson, Hajji Chhuttan Khan, said: "We used to celebrate his birthday with great love and still celebrate it. But when Hamid Miyan heard about the blasts and that 70-80 people have been killed. He started crying and refrained from having his food. And then, he said that I will not celebrate my birthday."

Prayers were offered near his residence in early hours of today. Khan prayed for peace for the departed souls and for the spread of accord among various communities.

Born on May 20, 1878, Khan has had the privilege of seeing six generations. He worked for the royal family in Jaipur as a bandmaster and has been getting a pension for the last 65 years. Earlier his pension was fixed at just 1.86 rupees, but now is 2112 rupees. (ANI)