By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: There have been allegations of financial irregularities in the Haj Committee of India (HCI) for long. But the HCI woke up only last week to form a probe panel to enquire the allegations and submit a report within three months. The decision was taken during a meeting of its finance committee under the chairmanship of Hasan Ahmad, vice president of HCI.
HCI is a government of India undertaking which makes all the arrangement for Muslim’s pilgrimage of Haj.
Building of Haj House in Hyderabad
Talking to TwoCircles.net over phone, Hasan Ahmad said, “Every single penny in the Haj Committee of India belongs to pilgrims. When it comes to finance and financial accountability in the HCI, several questions need to be asked about the role of HCI officials.”
Giving an instance of financial irregularity, Ahmad, who is also an MLA from Mustafabad assembly constituency in Delhi, said that drafts worth more than Rs 1.5 crore which have been sent from Haj applicants, haven’t yet been submitted in the account of HCI. “Where have gone the money, if not in the HCI’s account? asked Ahmad.
Raising the issue of transparency and better coordination between the officials of HCI and members of the HCI, Ahmad blamed the HCI officials for keeping the members of HCI in dark about matters of finance as well as issues of vital importance.
Ahmad criticized the role of the CEO HCI, and said that, the CEO who is government’s official should be more active and vigilant in handing the affairs in the HCI. Dr. Shakir Hussain is the present CEO of HCI.
Ahmad also raised the issue of loss to HCI worth Rs. Sixty Four crore three years back. The loss happened mainly due to change in exchange rates. He asked why nobody highlighted the issue and what steps were taken to avoid these kinds of avoidable financial losses.
Talking to TCN, Ahmad also raised the issue of irregularities in appointments in the HCI during last several years and demanded a through enquiry of all the appointments of HCI employees during last five years.
TCN tried to get the response of Dr. Shakir Hussain, the CEO of HCI but he was not available for comments.