‘Hefty fare collected from Hajj pilgrims’
Minister Zameer Ahmed apprises centre
Bengaluru, July 02: Minority Welfare and Hajj and Wakf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan said that he has apprised the central government that hefty flight fare was being collected from the Hajj pilgrims of the state.
Speaking to Varthabharati on the sideline of the Assembly Session at Vidhana Soudha in the city on Monday, the Minister said that he noticed that all fares like travel expenses, accommodation in Mecca and Madina, and luggage expenses were increased. After he had become the Minister, he had discussed those issues with the officials. Instead of the government of India and Hajj Committee, if the state government made all arrangements for the Hajj pilgrims, each pilgrim would save minimum Rs 70000, he said.
Compared to the fee being charged to the pilgrims by the Indian Haj Committee, the accommodation facility being given to Azizia category was not good. Accommodation could be made near the Kaaba Bhavan. But the Indian Haj Committee has been providing accommodation far away, he said.
There was no need to get any subsidy from the Centre. If the government allotted the share in the quota being allotted to India by the Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrims, it would be enough. He brought to the notice of the central minister that the state government was capable of providing all facilities to the Hajj pilgrims.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi responded positively and asked him to come to Delhi again after completing the Hajj pilgrimage of this season. Total 18000 applications were filed from the state for Hajj pilgrimage. Among them, 6624 persons were selected through lottery and 11500 applications were in waiting list. So, he has urged the central minister to hike 2000 seats more for the state, he added.
But Naqvi said that ‘You have come for the first time after becoming the minister. If you had come two months earlier, something could have been done. But a meeting would be held within a week and after that, I would try to increase at least 1000 quota’, he added.
From Bengaluru airport, the first team of Hajj pilgrims would start on August 1. On July 31, the flight travel would be inaugurated officially, he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Meerut youth allegedly assaulted, family claims forced chanting of Jai Shri Ram slogans
Meerut :A young man from Sofipur village, Meerut, was reportedly assaulted, stripped, and coerced to chant religious slogans, according to allegations made by his family on Monday. The incident occurred on Saturday evening as the victim, Gulfam, was returning home from practice at a private shooting range in Mangal Pandey Nagar, said his father, Aftab.
Aftab claimed that Gulfam was intercepted by three individuals who took him to Victoria Park. There, the assailants allegedly beat him, stripped him, and demanded that he chant "Jai Shri Ram." Gulfam’s family also alleged that the attackers stole his mobile phone and left him unconscious at the scene.
However, local police have rejected the claims of stripping and forced chanting, suggesting that the incident appears to be linked to personal enmity. "There is no mention of any forced chanting in the FIR. It seems to be a case of enmity between local youths," stated Mahavir Singh, Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines Police Station.
Based on Aftab’s complaint, an FIR was filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 351(2) for criminal intimidation, 352 for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace, and 324 for mischief. Civil Lines Circle Officer, Abhishek Tiwari, confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects involved.
Gulfam, who is preparing for a national shooting competition, is currently undergoing medical treatment at a private hospital. His family continues to maintain that the attack was religiously motivated, though the authorities have yet to substantiate these specific claims.
