The Kerala State Haj Committee has objected to several new provisions including reduction in pilgrim quota for the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) to 70% in the draft proposed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
At a meeting here on Monday, the State Haj committee chaired by Haj Minister K.T. Jaleel urged the HCoI to increase the existing quota for Haj committee to 80% from the existing 75%. It was also decided to protest against the recommendation to abolish the reserved category of applicants comprising those who have crossed 70 years and people who have applied continuously for four years, he said.
In its report, a five-member committee appointed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to review the Haj policy of the government for 2013-17 and to suggest framework for new Haj policy for 2018-22 had recommended distribution of quota between HCoI and Private Tour Operators (PTOs) to be rationalised in the ratio of 70:30 for the next 5 years.
Terming the recommendation unacceptable, Mr. Jaleel told the media that the draft Haj policy had been framed “in a unilateral manner” without holding discussions with the State Haj Committee or the Central Haj Committee.
“Many recommendations in the draft are against the interests of the State. The State Haj Committee will take up the matter with the HCoI at its next meeting,” the Minister said, adding that the proposal to raise the quota for PTOs from 25% to 30% was illogical.
The Minister said the State government would urge the Centre to retain the existing policy of allowing those who had crossed 70 years of age and fifth time applicants to get selected for the Haj pilgrimage without draw of lots.
Besides, the government would demand retention of all the 21 existing Haj embarkation points in the country and inclusion of Calicut airport on the list.
The draft Haj policy had recommended the embarkation points only at Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kochi and asked State governments to construct suitable Haj houses at these places.
At the same time, Mr. Jaleel said the State Haj Committee supported the proposal on the single category of accommodation for pilgrims in Makkah, in Azizia and adjoining areas in Saudi Arabia.
Central Haj committee members E.T. Mohammed Basheer and M.I. Shanavas, both MPs, and representatives from other State Haj committees and Muslim organisations in the State participated in the meeting.
