Haj committee sends SMS to pilgrims asking for additional fees
Bengaluru, July 4: A SMS sent by Haj committee to the pilgrims from the state, asking for additional fees has created confusion among the pilgrims.
As per the notification by Haj committee of India, Haj pilgrims travelling from Mangaluru airport were asked to pay Rs. 2,63,450 to the green category for up and down journey. The first installment of the fees Rs. 81,000 was paid on January. The second installment amount Rs. 1,82,450 was scheduled to pay in May. But now the committee has sent a mobile SMS asking pilgrims to pay additional Rs.16,258 within 10th of July.
As per earlier notifications, pilgrims travelling from Bengaluru airport had to pay Rs. 2,61,250 for green category, Rs. 2,27,100 for Aziziya category. Pilgrims travelling from Mangaluru airport had to pay Rs. 2,63,450 for green category and 2,29,250 for Azizia category.
Pilgrims travelling from Hyderabad airport had to pay Rs. 2,47,750 for green category and Rs. 2,13,600 for Azizia category. Pilgrims travelling from Goa airport had to pay Rs. 2,63,100 for green category and Rs. 2,28,950 for Azizia category.
Speaking to Vartha Bharati State secretary of State Goodwill Forum Akbar Ali said, haj committee asking to pay additional Rs. 16,258, when the pilgrims are preparing to leave to haj through Mangaluru airport from July 21 to July 23, has stunned the pilgrims.
Haj committee of India clarification:
We have received complaints regarding haj committee of India's SMS asking haj pilgrims to pay additional fees. We have asked for clarification from the committee. We will get the explanation by tomorrow and will take action accordingly.
Sarfaraz Khan, Chief Executive officer, state haj committee.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
