Haj pilgrimage likely to be cancelled, 12,000 in State awaiting Govt’s decision
| Date :01-Jun-2020 |
Jamal Siddiqui
By Vikas Vaidya :
Coronavirus outbreak has changed everything, every calculation. Haj pilgrimage, one of the biggest religious events of Muslim community is no exception. This year it is almost certain that the event would not take place. About 12,000 pilgrims in Maharashtra who were selected through lottery system awaiting the Government’s decision.
The new guidelines that have been issued by Central and State Government on Sunday has made it clear, there will be no transportation facility available be it flight, railway, bus for June. The circular by Maharashtra Government prohibited all types of intra-state transportation till June 30. The first Haj flight is to be taken off on June 30 if the pilgrimage was to take place at all. With the new circular in, chances are bleak of people from India going for Haj. While talking to ‘The Hitavada’ President of Maharashtra Haj Committee Jamal Siddiqui explained, “The process of on-line application for the interested Haj pilgrims began around October. For Maharashtra we have the quota of 12,000 and a total of 39,000 people had applied. Through lottery system, 12,000 became the lucky pilgrims. All have paid Rs 2 lakh each to Haj Committee of India as an expenditure of the pilgrimage. From our side we have completed all the procedure.”
There are all the details on the website of Haj Committee of India that displays the schedule for Haj pilgrimage. If that details are taken into account Haj Committee of Maharashtra has done its job well. The holy pilgrimage is scheduled from July 20. As per the process, the visa is ready by mid-May, but till date by the end of May, no Visa process was initiated. Siddiqui said, “We have not received single application for cancellation. People have kept themselves ready. It is a 40-days affair and everybody has to prepare himself or herself for the same. With uncertainty about pilgrimage is donning, people too are in the confusion. I want to make one appeal to Government to make early announcement about the pilgrimage and Haj Committee of India to return the money of the people that was deposited.”
The pilgrimage is held in Saudi Arabia and all arrangements are made by that Government. Sources disclosed Saudi Government had already asked Pakistan not to take money from the pilgrims. This gives a clear indication that pilgrimage would not take place. Has Saudi Arabia Government informed same to India too? Jamal Siddiqui replied, “We have no idea but I have sent a letter to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Union Minister to come clear on this issue.” The preparation of Haj pilgrimage takes place for about a year. People are trained for the purpose who handle pilgrims, guide them, also train them about the pilgrimage.
Maharashtra Haj Committee has formed a team of 120 persons in State, trained them. The responsibility of training the pilgrims has been bestowed upon them. Shahid Naseem Khan, Vice-President of Central Tanzeem Committee (CTC) too is of the view there would be no Haj pilgrimage this year In a rough estimate about 1.25 lakh pilgrims have deposited Rs 2 lakh each with Haj Committee of India with a total around Rs 2,400 crore. According to some people in Nagpur the Haj Committee should start returning the amount by now, as the picture is almost clear. Haj pilgrimage is a grand holy event that one at least once in life wants to experience. The persons who got selected through lottery this year may not get to be listed among the pilgrims next year, but coronavirus has devastated their dreams. Sometimes almighty thinks otherwise.