By TCN News
Lucknow: Senior cabinet minister and Chairman, State Haj Committee (SHC) Naseemuddin Siddiqui on Monday urged the foreign minister to facilitate direct air flight for haj pilgrims from Varanasi to Meccah and Medinah.
Siddiqui stated that during the haj pilgrimage in 2009 nearly 5000 haj devotees boarding from Varanasi were first taken to Delhi in small planes and later adjusted in Saudi Arabia flight as per the availability of seats. “This resulted in problems and confusion for haj pilgrims. They were stranded at Delhi airport for 20-24 hours. During this period the central government did not make any arrangements for their lodging, fooding and space to offer namaz. We have therefore urged the central government to make arrangements for direct flight from Varanasi to Saudi Arabia,” he said.