Maya writes to Krishna on plight of Haj pilgrims

Chief Minister Mayawati has written to External Affair Minister S M Krishna,drawing his attention to the problems faced by Haj pilgrims due to alleged apathetic attitude of the Haj Committee of India.

Chief Minister Mayawati has written to External Affair Minister S M Krishna,drawing his attention to the problems faced by Haj pilgrims due to alleged apathetic attitude of the Haj Committee of India (HCI).

According to a release issued by the states Information and Public Relation Department,several pilgrims selected through lottery,who subsequently deposited their entire amount,form and international passport and then got visas from Saudi embassy,could not be sent for Haj on time.

Sources in the government said the HCI had displayed the names of such pilgrims on its site as selected to go on Haj. According to an official,the HCI has failed to arrange for an adequate number of flights. Recently,around 14,900 persons were selected to go for Haj, the official said. The flights arranged by the HCI,however,could accommodate only 13,600 pilgrims. The states repeated requests to reschedule flights failed to yield any result. Hence the chief minister has written to Krishna.

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In her letter,Mayawati said strong resentment prevails among the Muslim community over the HCIs attitude. The HCI,she wrote,had earlier fixed dates from October 18 to November 6 for flights. But suddenly without informing the state government,these dates were fixed from October 9 to October 28, the release said.

The pilgrims and the state Haj Committee faced difficulties due to the sudden change in programme. But despite facing problems,the state government made the arrangements for the pilgrims,which is why the HCI could send pilgrims on revised dates.

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