Author: Staff Reporter
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: June 15, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/183033/BJP-MP-seeks-hike-in-State-Haj-quota.html
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Member
of Parliament from Bhopal Kailash Joshi has demanded immediate increase in
the Haj quota of the State.
Joshi, in a letter to Union Foreign Minister
SM Krishna, has urged to increase the Haj quota of the State, especially of
Bhopal, seeing the increasing number of Haj aspirants in the State and city.
Joshi in his letter apprised Krishna that
Bhopal is a Muslim dominated district and the number of senior citizens here
is quiet high that wishes to perform Haj at the earliest.
Joshi told Krishna that the State Haj quota
was fixed to 3431 and the number of applications received by the State Haj
Committee was 16,704 that makes it very clear that the quota fixed for the
State has become irrelevant and an immediate hike should be made in it.
Joshi talking to The Pioneer said, "
I am trying to get the quota of State raised but was shocked to know that
at the place of increasing the quota, the Central Haj Committee (CHC) has
decreased the State quota by 100 and that's why understanding the seriousness
of the issue I have written a letter to Union Foreign Minister SM Krishna
in this regard. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is keen that a Haj house
be build in Bhopal and the Haj aspirants from the State should get a direct
Haj flight from Bhopal. Earlier we had met the Civil Aviation Minister in
this regard, and he assured us that as soon as the development work of the
Bhopal airport completes, Bhopal would get a direct Haj Flight."
Joshi said that the quota of the private Haj
operators could be reduced to increase the quota of State as the Haj conducted
by these private operators costs heavy to the pilgrims. This would enable
to fulfill the lifetime desire of the Haj aspirants to perform Haj at the
reduced costs.
He expressed hope that the long pending demand
of the Haj aspirants of the State to increase the quota would be met at the
earliest.
