By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: Chief Minister Mayawati shot off a letter to foreign minister SM Krishna on Sunday lodging her protest over cancellation of nearly 6000 pilgrims from UP quota. These devotees were earlier given confirmation by the Haj Committee of India (HCI) but their names were removed from the list at eleventh hour on Friday.
She urged Krishna to direct HCI Chairperson Mohsina Kidwai for reinstation of all Haj devotees besides making proper arrangements. Nearly 30 percent of the Haj devotees from the country hail from UP.
Alleging stepmotherly treatment to devotees from UP, the CM mentioned in her letter that the pilgrims have deposited their international passport, form, secured visa from Saudi Arabian embassy but their names were scrapped. She has termed the decision of HCI as one sided
and unjustifiable.
Lashing out at the HCI decision, CM stated that it has led to large scale resentment among the Muslim community in the state. She had also cited several previous decisions of the HCI which created problems for the devotees. Earlier, the HCI had preponed the flight schedule from Varanasi terminal by nine days without any intimation to the State Haj Committee (SHC) and state government. The previous flight schedule from Varanasi was between October 18-November 6 which was preponed to October 9-October 28.
The UP chief minister also lodged her protest with the foreign ministry that HCI imposed the flight schedule in such a manner when the state machinery was occupied with panchayat elections and important festivals as Dashehra, Durga Puja etc. However, the SHC and state government accepted the changed schedule and made arrangements at the last minute for the devotees.
Meanwhile, in a significant development, the HCI has given green signal to the 6000 devotees whose names were missing from the list. “They have been reconfirmed and their status has been restored in computer list. They will now proceed for pilgrimage within two days,” said assistant secretary SHC, Javed Siddiqui. He also stated that things were settled in HCI’s Mumbai office when a special officer from SHC went there to discuss the issue on Saturday. He claimed that things were expedited after the intervention of the chief minister in the issue. Earlier these devotees were shown as confirmed but on Friday, their names were scrapped in the list and shown under ‘forms not received’ category leading to chaotic situation in Lucknow.