BANGALORE, 17 June 2003 — Kamaluddin Ahmed, the Indian ambassador-designate to Saudi Arabia, assured Muslims that he would strive for foolproof arrangements for the accommodation, transport and guidance of Indian pilgrims during the next pilgrimage.
Ahmed was speaking at an event hosted by R. Roshan Baig, the minister for small industries and Haj of Kanrataka in the city Sunday night.
Ahmed said Haj arrangements in India had been decentralized and numerous complications had arisen. There was therefore a need to take a fresh look at all aspects of logistics of transport, accommodation and health of pilgrims. He said he was visiting various states in India to assess the problems faced by Indian pilgrims.
Kamaluddin Ahmed was appointed as the ambassador to the Kingdom last week by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Three-time member of Parliament from Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, and currently member of the Planning Commission, Ahmed told Arab News he would be taking over the new post in Riyadh in the third week of July.
