MEA declares war on Haj panel

The controversy over the arrangements for the Haj 8212; when approximately one lakh Indian pilgrims will visit Mecca and Madina in March 1999 8212; now threatens into snowball with the MEA sending a background paper on the CHC to the Prime Minister8217;s Office PMO. The paper alleges that the 8220;stench of corruption8221; pervades Indian Haj management and that the Haj Committee was 8220;blackmailing8221; the BJP Government, giving it a communal colour.

When contacted, Salamat Ullah, chairman of the CHC said: 8220;I admit the relationship between the MEA and the CHC has become one of confrontation. I have had no trouble with them sincethe past four-and-a-half years and have only had this trouble since the past six months.8221;

The Haj Committee has passed a strongly-worded resolution against the MEA, stating that its Consulate General in Riyadh had 8220;usurped8221; the powers of the Committee and had 8220;sabotaged8221; the process of acquiring accommodation for the pilgrims. The accommodation contracts, for hiring around 700 dwelling units are expected to be worth Rs 80 crore.

The Haj Committee members say that theirs is an autonomous body set up through an Act of Parliament and the MEA is trying to take all decisions relating to the Haj. 8220;They are imposing decisions on us, decisions, which, in fact, we should be taking since we are the supreme authority for everything to do with the Haj. The bureaucrats are intent on putting hurdles in our way,8221; says Salamat Ullah.

The MEA has written to the PMO that while they did not have enough 8220;hard evidence8221; to initiate criminal proceedings against members of the CHC, there was substantial anecdotalevidence8221; with them. The allegations listed in the MEA8217;s background paper, sent on October 12, are:

While MEA officials refuse to comment, the CHC denies all allegations.

8220;As far as allegations of the MEA are concerned, let me tell you that all travel and allowances are taken with their cognizance. Everything is channelised through them. And we have never used a single free air ticket as alleged,8221; says Salamt Ullah.

But the MEA is losing the battle, at least for the time being. The process for reconstituting the CHC, which is done every three years, was initiated five months ago, but the MEA was still waiting for the two crucial nominations to come in from Maharashtra.

Also, notwithstanding recommendations from the MEA and Ministry of Finance MoF that the Haj subsidy Rs 12,000 towards airfare for each pilgrim should be completely done away with this year, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has ordered that it be 8220;maintained8221; at last year8217;s level, which amounted to Rs 122 crore.

Home Minister LK Advani also cleared the Haj subsidy stating on file that8220;a Cabinet note on this subject is not necessary.8221;

The CHC, in the meantime, filed a petition in the Supreme Court, stating that they were 8220;mid-way8221; in their preparation for Haj 8217;99. They also stated in the petition that the CHC should not be reconstituted since the BJP Government had already committed itself to amending the defunct 1959 Haj Committee Act. The petition warns that there was 8220;every possibility of all sorts of confusion as the new committee is yet to be constituted when the preparation for the Haj is midway.8221;

The stay order has prompted the MEA to do a volte face. They have written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to permit the Salamat Ullah to be part of the air-charter agreement and have reconciled to allowing CHC members to finalise accommodation for pilgrims.