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New Delhi: Promising a hassle-free Haj pilgrimage
this year, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj
on Monday vowed instituting an inquiry into the
disappearance of some 64 prized Indian
guesthouses in the twin holy Saudi Arabian cities
of Makkah and Madina.
These guesthouses known as Rabaat, were built
over the years by erstwhile nawabs of various
Indian provinces to accommodate pilgrims of their
regions. After Independence, though their
ownership was transferred to the Indian
government, there is no trace of them today. "We
need to inquire, what happened to the properties
donated for Hajis by the Indian rulers," Swaraj
said. Even, if they had been acquired and
demolished by the Saudi authorities, a big
question looms, why
no one in the Indian government ever asked for
alternative sites or compensation.
Identifying accommodation in Saudi Arabia as the
main issue for pilgrims, the minister called for a
long-term solution. She said the government may
think of building a complex in the twin cities with
the help of the Saudi government. "They can be
used for Haj pilgrimage for three months; for the
remaining nine months, people going for Umrah
and Ziyarat can stay there," she said.
The minister, while addressing a conference on
facilities for Haj organised by the Central Haj
Committee here, said the contractors found
negligent in offering services to the pilgrims
should be blacklisted. Swaraj also criticised the
previous UPA regime for not attending to the
issue of Haj pilgrims. She said the pilgrimage
henceforth would be more fruitful and gratifying.
"Pilgrims do not get proper facilities. We would
ensure all basic facilities are extended to Haj
pilgrims."
"Most people get an opportunity to go to Makkah
for Haj only once in their lifetime. People collect
money for years to go for Haj. Our effort will be to
make the journey of pilgrims comfortable," Swaraj
said.
She also criticised the official carrier Air India for
disparity in fare from pilgrims. The pilgrims of
J&K are charged Rs1.54 lakh as they take a flight
from Srinagar while others boarding from
designated airports are charged Rs62,800.
Route plan to holy cities
Government of India and the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia sign a Haj agreement every year in which
the number of Haj seats allocated to India is
incorporated
This year 1,36, 000 seats are for India against
1,70,025 seats in 2013
Those who have performed Haj earlier through
the government Haj committee of India are not
eligible for another pilgrimage
In 2012, the Supreme Court of India ordered that
Haj subsidy must end by 2022. The court ruled
that this subsidy is not only unconstitutional but
inconsistent with the teachings of Quran
India's missing Saudi Rabaats - DNA - English News & Features - Top News - dnasyndication.com
this year, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj
on Monday vowed instituting an inquiry into the
disappearance of some 64 prized Indian
guesthouses in the twin holy Saudi Arabian cities
of Makkah and Madina.
These guesthouses known as Rabaat, were built
over the years by erstwhile nawabs of various
Indian provinces to accommodate pilgrims of their
regions. After Independence, though their
ownership was transferred to the Indian
government, there is no trace of them today. "We
need to inquire, what happened to the properties
donated for Hajis by the Indian rulers," Swaraj
said. Even, if they had been acquired and
demolished by the Saudi authorities, a big
question looms, why
no one in the Indian government ever asked for
alternative sites or compensation.
Identifying accommodation in Saudi Arabia as the
main issue for pilgrims, the minister called for a
long-term solution. She said the government may
think of building a complex in the twin cities with
the help of the Saudi government. "They can be
used for Haj pilgrimage for three months; for the
remaining nine months, people going for Umrah
and Ziyarat can stay there," she said.
The minister, while addressing a conference on
facilities for Haj organised by the Central Haj
Committee here, said the contractors found
negligent in offering services to the pilgrims
should be blacklisted. Swaraj also criticised the
previous UPA regime for not attending to the
issue of Haj pilgrims. She said the pilgrimage
henceforth would be more fruitful and gratifying.
"Pilgrims do not get proper facilities. We would
ensure all basic facilities are extended to Haj
pilgrims."
"Most people get an opportunity to go to Makkah
for Haj only once in their lifetime. People collect
money for years to go for Haj. Our effort will be to
make the journey of pilgrims comfortable," Swaraj
said.
She also criticised the official carrier Air India for
disparity in fare from pilgrims. The pilgrims of
J&K are charged Rs1.54 lakh as they take a flight
from Srinagar while others boarding from
designated airports are charged Rs62,800.
Route plan to holy cities
Government of India and the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia sign a Haj agreement every year in which
the number of Haj seats allocated to India is
incorporated
This year 1,36, 000 seats are for India against
1,70,025 seats in 2013
Those who have performed Haj earlier through
the government Haj committee of India are not
eligible for another pilgrimage
In 2012, the Supreme Court of India ordered that
Haj subsidy must end by 2022. The court ruled
that this subsidy is not only unconstitutional but
inconsistent with the teachings of Quran
India's missing Saudi Rabaats - DNA - English News & Features - Top News - dnasyndication.com
