By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Extending the scope of its politics of regionalism, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) yesterday met CEO of Haj Committee of India and demanded that only Maharashtra origin Muslims should be allowed to go for Haj through Maharashtra State Haj Committee.
A 40-member delegation of MNS led by deputy president Haji Arafat asked the CEO Owais Siddiqi to reject Haj applications of those people who want to go through the Maharashtra Haj Committee but originally they are not from Maharashtra – they are from UP or Bihar.
Talking to TCN on phone Owais Siddiqi said that MNS people were demanding that ‘domicile certificate’ be made a mandatory condition and the only residence proof for going to Haj through Maharashtra state Haj committee. Domicile certificate is issued from Collector office only after a person stays in Maharashtra for 15-20 years and gets ration card and voter ID of Maharashtra as residence and identity proof.
‘None, but Muslims from Maharashtra go through State Haj Committee. It is responsibility of the committee to identify whether or not an applicant is from the state,’ replied Owais to the delegation adding, ‘There is noting to be concerned. The International passport will clarify whether an applicant has a residence proof in Maharashtra or not.’