Other States - Uttar Pradesh   

30,000 from U.P for Haj

LUCKNOW: Around 30,000 persons from Uttar Pradesh will undertake the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2007 and for the first time Haj flights will originate from Varanasi. The Haj flights from Varanasi will cater to the pilgrims from Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Already Haj flights take off from Lucknow and New Delhi. The inaugural flights carrying the pilgrims from UP will leave simultaneously from Lucknow, Varanasi and New Delhi on November 11 this year. The pilgrimage will be performed in December 2007.

The Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, said here on Sunday that the Central Haj Committee, Mumbai had fixed this year’s Haj quota from UP at 23,913. Following efforts of the State Government and Haj Committee, the quota was increased to 29,989 pilgrims, Mr. Siddiqui said.

Mr. Siddiqui, who is the PWD, Irrigation and Sugarcane Development Minister in the Mayawati Cabinet said 2729 Hajis from 15 Eastern UP districts will board the flight from Varanasi , 8947 from Lucknow and 18,414 from New Delhi.

He said UP’s quota of 29,989 Hajis was the highest in the country.

The Haj panel chairman said all the formalities including checking in, immigration, custom clearance and banking formalities would be completed at the Haj House in the State capital. He said for the first time the master trainers ( those who in turn trained the Hajis for performing the pilgrimage ) would be trained in Lucknow by the representatives of Central Haj Committee, Consulate General of India in Jeddah, KSA ( Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and the Ministry of External Affairs. Besides, training would be imparted to the pilgrims at the Tehsil level.

Training to the pilgrims will also be imparted in 354 registered madrasas in the State where arrangement will also be made for doctors and vaccinators.

Regarding the problems faced by the Hajis from the State in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Siddiqui said he would conduct a meeting of the Haj Commitee soon to work out measures to tackle the problem. He added that the matter would be taken up at the highest level.

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