Date:31/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/31/stories/2008103155481400.htm

National

Centre blamed for plight of Haj pilgrims

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati lashed out at the United Progressive Alliance government on Thursday for its mismanagement of the Central Haj Committee, which resulted in 295 Haj pilgrims being unable to board the inaugural flight to Madina in Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.

The first Haj flight was scheduled to take off at 1 p.m. and the second at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Each flight was to carry 295 pilgrims. But 90 pilgrims in the first flight and 200 in the second had not received their visas and passports till the date of the departure. Consequently, the 1 p.m. flight was cancelled, but the Central Haj Committee did not inform the U.P. Haj Committee about this.

The Chief Minister told reporters that the State government was doing its best to provide all facilities to the pilgrims.

She held the Centre responsible for the plight of those who missed the inaugural Haj flight from Lucknow’s Amausi airport.