Date:29/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/29/stories/2007112963410400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Pilgrims to leave for Haj today

Staff Reporter

Avoid another pilgrimage within five years: Rahman Khan

Special occasion: Governor Rameshwar Thakur greeting Moulana Mufti Ashraf Ali Saheb, Ameer-e-Shariyath, Karnataka, and Rector of Darul Uloom Sabeel-ur-Rashad and Moulana Riyaz-ur-Rahman at the inaugural function of Haj flights in Bangalore on Wednesday. K. Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, and Abdul Azeem, MLC, are seen.

BANGALORE: An alternative has to be found to replace the Haj subsidy extended to pilgrims visiting Makkah should be explored, said Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan on Wednesday.

Speaking during the inaugural function of Haj flights here, he said the practice of extending subsidy for the Haj pilgrimage was not found in any other country, and it amounted to around Rs. 450 crore in India. “Even in Pakistan, the Shariat Board has declared that the Haj subsidy was against the Shariat,” he said.

Mr. Khan urged pilgrims not to undertake another pilgrimage within five years. “India is allotted a quota of 1.5 lakh pilgrims annually as against the Muslim population of around 15 crore in the country. We should allow others to take part in the pilgrimage,” he added.

Regarding the construction of Haj House, he said that it was unfortunate that the building had not come up. He urged Governor Rameshwar Thakur to hasten the process of allotting land to facilitate for the construction of the Haj House.

The Governor, who took part in the function, wished the Haj pilgrims and assured that he would do whatever possible for the construction of the Haj Bhavan.

Batches of pilgrims will start leaving for Saudi Arabia from Thursday, and the last batch will leave Bangalore on December 11. Chairman of the Karnataka State Haj Committee Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan said that the committee had received around 13,000 applications for Haj pilgrimage during 2007 of which 6,600 applications have been approved.

“Fifteen special Haj flights will carry these pilgrims from Thursday and 440 pilgrims will be travelling in each batch,” he added.

The Haj Committee has set up a temporary camp at Khuddus Saheb Idgah Maidan where the process of booking, immigration, customs check, baggage checking and others would be completed before the pilgrims are taken to airport for boarding the flight.

Several religious leaders, including Moulana Mufti Mohammed Ashraf Ali Saheb, Ameer-e-Shariyath, Karnataka, and Rector of Darul Uloom Sabeel-ur-Rashad and Moulana Riyaz-ur-Rahman Saheb Rashadi of Khateeb-o-Imam of Jamia Masjid at City Market took part in the functions along with several political leaders from the Muslim community.