Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, a former federal minister, member of Parliament 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.
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.”
On the recent bomb blasts in Mumbai, Hussain said that there should not be any politics when people have died.
“Terrorism should not be seen through a religious prism as I firmly believe terrorists have no religion and they just believe in killing innocents to espouse their ill-conceived ideas.”
He blasted the government for not tackling terrorism properly and asked “if America can effectively check such incidents after 9/11 and if Saudi Arabia can curb terrorism effectively, then why can’t India fight it decisively?”
Hussain said there should not be any talks with Pakistan unless it takes concrete steps to close down the “terror factories” on its soil.
He also condemned the Congress-led Indian government for failing to fight corruption which is “rampant everywhere.”
“Whatever steps the government is taking, it’s only due to pressure from the Supreme Court, media, civil societies and the opposition as it lacks the will to fight this scourge,” he said.
