The Hindu : National : Row over clearance for Haj continues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

National

National

Row over clearance for Haj continues

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, DEC. 29. Even as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) issued travel documents on Monday to six more persons for the Haj pilgrimage, the row over stopping people with separatist leanings continues.

The issue has since turned into a political battle as the separatist leader and chairman of the hard line Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Geelani, is among the 33 persons who have not been cleared for the pilgrimage. Mr. Geelani puts up an application to go to the Haj pilgrimage almost every year and is denied permission every time. He is also a member of the Saudi Arabia-based World Muslim League, the most influential body of Muslims in the world.

The Government had also declined permission to the High Court Bar Association president, Mian Abdul Qayoom and a senior lawyer, Mufti Merajuddi. The Association filed a public interest litigation petition in the High Court, which asked the Government to issue travel documents to them. Both the lawyers have proceeded on Haj as the Government decided not to appeal against the Division Bench order.

The Additional Director-General of Police (CID), Ashok Bhan, justified the Government action, saying there were many reasons for disallowing travel. One reason was that these people had links with militants; many of them had been in jail; and the children of some of them were in Pakistan after they crossed over to acquire training in arms and ammunition. "There is every chance that these people will be contacted by the ISI during their stay in Saudi Arabia and thus can become a stronger link for funding, aiding and abetting militancy," Dr. Bhan told The Hindu.

A court had convicted Mufti Merajuddin for anti-national activities.

Dr. Bhan said initially 160 persons had been short-listed against travel, including those involved in crimes other than terrorism.

But after a review the number had been brought down to 33. Many people, however, claim that their relatives have been implicated in "false cases.

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