By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi, nazim Imarat Shariah, has been elected chairman of Bihar Haj Committee. In a meeting held at Haj House in Patna on 13th August to elect new chairman, Haroon Rasheed, a member of Bihar Haj Committee, proposed Maulana’s name for the post, and he was elected unanimously for the term of three years.
Maulana Qasmi has been working as nazim Imarat Shariah for several years. Last month he was appointed as member of Bihar Haj Committee by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Talking toTwoCircles.net, Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi said: “I am fully aware of the problems faced by Haj applicants and Hajis and I am committed to solve that. I will try to provide better service to them.”
Asked about the most important issue which should be dealt with immediately he said: “To solve the problems of passports is very important as most of the Haj aspirants are yet to receive that. I have talked to principal secretary of state home ministry, Mr. Afzal Amanullah on the matter. He assured to issue notice to SPs of all districts to initiate in this regard.”
“In case, aspirants do not receive passports they will be provide provisional passports for the period of 8 months” he added.
“In my view most of the problems for Haj aspirants are because of long schedule of departure. I, therefore, will discuss with officials of central Haj Committee to make it short” he informed.
Bihar Haj Committee has quota of 10,500 people but unfortunately the list of aspirants from state does not reach the quota. The Committee received only 5734 applications for this year.
“We will urge the wealthy Muslims of the state to go on this noble trip and will create awareness among them by the help of Muslim organizations, leaders of the community, Imams of the mosques and ulema” he told.
“It is a golden chance for those Muslims of the state who are able to offer the fifth pillar of Islam but yet did not submit application for Haj as Bihar Haj Committee extended the date of submission for applications till 31st August 2009” he told.
He also said that Bihar Haj Committee would reform the sub committees to ensure the better service to aspirants.
“To train the aspirants so that they can offer this obligation properly, we will run training camps in an organized way at several places of the states” he informed.