Searching for land for constructing Haj Bhavan at Adyar: Minister Zameer
Mangaluru, July 21: Haj and Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said that it was decided to purchase a private land at Adyar in Farangipete on National Highway 75 to construct the Haj Bhavan.
Flagging off the Haj yatra of the first team to be left from the Mangaluru International Airport, at Bajpe Ansar School premises here on Saturday, the Minister said that it was decided to drop the land sanctioned near Bajpe for the construction of the Haj Bhavan. He would not do any politics in Haj and he would not give false promises. The land sanctioned near Bajpe was not suitable for the Haj Bhavan. So, he has inspected the land near Adyar. If the owners of the land gave it in concession, it would be purchased and Haj Bhavan would be constructed. Normally, Haj Bhavan would be used for just five-six days in a year and rest of the days, it would be useless. So, it should not be useless. If it was constructed on the roadside or residential place, it could be rented out for other programmes, he said.
Haj pilgrimage was not only for the rich, but the poor Muslim could also make it as it was a lifetime aspiration. Before entering the politics, he had sent Imam and Muazzin of a masjid to Haj in his own cost and he has continued it till today. In future also, he would do it, he said.
Let officers team serve
In order to serve the Hajj pilgrims, a team of officers including doctors were being sent to the Haj from the state. They should serve the pilgrims. But the officers who go to Mecca and Madina to serve the pilgrims should not indulge in other activities, said Housing and Urban Development Minister UT Khader.
Udupi district composite Khazi PM Ibrahim Musliyar Bekal, Mangaluru Haj Management Committee president Y Muhammad Kunhi, MLC BM Farooq, former MLA, BA Moideen Bava, Central Committee president Haji Muhammad Masood, Retired police officer GA Bava, Dakshina Kannada Wakf Committee president Kanachur Monu, Udupi district Wakf Advisory Committee president KP Ibrahim, MUDA former president Ibrahim Kodijal, Khateeb Abdul Razaq Madani of Bajpe masjid, Bajpe Ansari school president and businessman Zakaria Bajpe, Haj Management Committee general secretary SM Rashid Haji, Haj and Wakf department secretary Muhammad Mohsin, Mangaluru taluk panchayat president Muhammad Monu, Dakshina Kannada district Congress minority wing president NS Kareem, and others were present.
This year, 1,73,000 people take up Hajj pilgrimage from India. Among them, 6624 are from Karnataka. But total 18,427 persons have applied for Hajj pilgrimage and among them, only 6624 were selected including 686 reserved candidates. Out of 520 persons, 432 people from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Hassan, Kodagu and Chikmagaluru districts would take up Hajj pilgrimage from Mangaluru airport on July 21, 22 and 23 said State Haj Committee convener KM Abubakar Siddiq Montugoli.
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I need not indulge in any revolution, have confidence, hope: D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Amid the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka for the CM post, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said he is with "utmost patience", and he has no need to indulge in any kind of revolution, as he believes in himself and has hope.
Asserting that he is neither interested in any kind of blackmailing for selfishness, nor is he interested in causing any trouble for the Congress, Shivakumar, who is also its state unit chief, said, though a "street fighter", his fight is never within the party.
Amid claims that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was using state intelligence to keep a tab on Shivakumar's camp through phone tapping during the ongoing power tussle, he stated that he doesn't know about it, and pointed out that the CM and Home Minister G Parameshwara have made statements on the issue.
"To this day, I have not spoken about the CM issue at any point. On matters concerning us, it is between me, the CM and the party high command. I have only said that we are party to the decision that has happened, other than that I have never said anything else," Shivakumar said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Others have been saying the post will become vacant, Dalits should get the post, others should get it. It is others who want the CM post to become vacant, wanting it to be given to Dalits and others. I have never spoken about it. Only if the post is vacant can it be given to anyone else. I have never spoken about the post becoming vacant."
Noting that he is the Congress state president, Shivakumar said he is aware of that responsibility and has always tried to ensure that no harm is caused to the party because of him and that discipline is not violated.
"Being the president of the party, sitting in this chair, no one should point out to me that I have done injustice from this position, killing the party. I don't want anyone to pass such comments against me in the future. So, I'm with utmost patience, I know what is all happening, whether it is right or wrong. I'm aware of it," he said.
Highlighting that the Congress party was built, nurtured and sacrificed for by a number of workers and leaders, including him, he doesn't want lakhs of party workers to be troubled because of him.
"They (workers) have made us sit in power. Neither am I interested in indulging in any kind of blackmail for my selfishness, nor am I interested in causing any trouble for the party," he added.
Replying to a question about his hesitation to comment on the CM change issue and when it might happen, Shivakumar merely said, "Time will answer, and decide."
He, however, did not wish to respond to reports about party leadership, including AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, top leader Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary K C Venugopal having held a discussion on the leadership issue in Karnataka. "I don't know. I haven't spoken or asked anyone," he added.
Shivakumar, who is hosting a dinner party for party legislators on March 10 to mark his six years as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, responded to a question about his continuation in the post by saying, "New blood should come, youngsters should come with fresh ideas."
"(Ministers) Parameshwara, H K Patil, Ramalinga Reddy and I became Ministers during our first term as MLAs. Our term is over, we are senior citizens, and new people should come....enough for me six years (as KPCC chief), others should also get an opportunity," he said.
Questioned whether he was speaking like a "Yogi," he said, "I'm a street fighter....I have come so far fighting; I know how to fight, but not for power. My fight is not within the party; I will fight outside the party. If anyone thinks I'm quiet, it is left to them."
Asked whether there will be some "Kranti" (revolution) after the budget, he said, "I need not do any Kranti. I have belief in myself, I have self-confidence. I always have hope.....I need not put in any effort; whatever has to come to me, it will come at the appropriate time. I have that confidence. I will meet you soon."
Responding to a question about Siddaramaiah's statement -- that if the BJP and JD(S) leaders have any "evil idea" to woo Shivakumar, it is their "daydream" -- the Deputy CM said, "He (the CM) said that out of his experience, he has seen me closely both when he was in another party and after joining Congress."
Asked whether there were any attempts by BJP and JD(S) to woo him, he said, "I will write a story about it some other time.....why speak about it now."
To a question, whether he accepts Siddaramaiah describing the bond between them as "milk and honey", Shivakumar said, "Of course. It was the same earlier, it is the same now, and it will be the same in 2028."
When pointed out that the bond between him and the CM doesn't seem to be cordial amid the ongoing power tussle, and after listening to some legislators supporting him, he said, "I want to request all the legislators, if they have any desire, that good things should happen to me, please keep quiet."
Accusing the opposition leaders of trying to "sour the relationship" between him and Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, earlier in the day, while rejecting phone tapping allegations, had asserted that such actions would not affect their relationship, which he described as being like "milk and honey."
