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Malegaon:
A long-term Haj plan for Indian pilgrims, including construction
of buildings suitable for Indian Hajis’ requirements, was
discussed during a meeting of the Haj Committee of India (HCI) and
Indian mission officials in Makkah July 17, a media reports said.
Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, a former minister, BJP MP and a member of the HCI, said besides immediate issues,
the panel set out a vision for the Indian Hajis, and began a
debate on the mode and implementation of this vision, Saudi
Arabia's leading English daily Arab News reported today.
The HCI members, including MP Maulana Mahmood Madani, were in the
Kingdom to oversee arrangements for this year’s Haj. The HCI
members met with Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai and other
officials.
The plan was being envisaged as the quota of Indian pilgrims is
among one of the highest and could increase manifold in the
future. In all, 170,491 Indian pilgrims performed Haj last year;
out of these 125,000 came through the HCI, while 45,491 pilgrims
came through private tour operators.
“We discussed a long-term plan for pilgrims under which a place
would be rented near one of the proposed metro stations in Makkah
for at least 30 years and then developed as per our pilgrims’
requirement. The plan, proposed by Kidwai, will be discussed on a
government level once the members return home,” said Hussain, a
senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader.
The plan is being pursued in order to accommodate all Indian
pilgrims in one area, so that transportation, health and other
logistic issues could be streamlined further.
The HCI members were satisfied with the arrangements so far and
expressed faith in the abilities of Kidwai, who will handle Haj
affairs for the first time.
Talking about the accommodation of Indian pilgrims in Makkah,
Hussain said, “We are of the belief that the allotment of green
category buildings (within 1 km from the Haram) should match the
number of applications in India. Then the allotment can be
judicious as those who applied would get their allotment and it
would also avoid any last minute changes in pilgrims’
accommodation plans which leads to resentment, frustration and
anger.
“Similarly, the pilgrims on the waiting list should be
accommodated on a priority basis when the quota is increased.”
Hussain said that he has placed Haj matters on the Parliament’s
agenda for discussion and has been given time by Parliament
Speaker Meira Kumar. “There’ll be a discussion on Haj issues on
the floor of the house in the coming session. I will raise issues
related to accommodation, travel and baggage.”
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