5,977 AP Pilgrims Selected For Haj

As many as 5,977 Haj pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh were selected on Tuesday through a computerised Qurrah (draw of lots) conducted by the Haj Committee of India at the Haj House at Nampally.

This year, the HCI allotted a total quota of 7,322 Haj pilgrims to the state, out of which 1,345 pilgrims were automatically selected under two reserved categories, i. e., those above 70 years of age, and those who had continuously applied for 3 years and were not selected yet.

Minorities Welfare minister Mohammed Ahmadullah inaugurated the Qurrah, and congratulated those who were selected today.

He said that those who were not selected should not be disappointed as it was the wish of Allah.

The minister said that the state government would provide the best of facilities to pilgrims through the state Haj Committee.

He said that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had agreed to double the grant for the Haj Committee from Rs. One crore to Rs. 2 crores in the current budget.

He also said that he would soon visit the holy land "to see personally that the best accommodation is provided to pilgrims from the state".

SHC chairman Syed Khaleeluddin Ahmed, who presided over the function, said that this year the state was allotted a higher quota than in the previous years.

The function commenced with the recitation of the holy Quran by Hafiz Saber Pasha.

Nampally MLA Virasat Rasool Khan congratulated the selected pilgrims, and stated that his party would do everything to serve the pilgrims of the state.

SHC chief executive officer Shaker Hussain explained the process of Qurrah, and said that the Qurrah is computerized and transparent.

Commissioner (Minorities Welfare) M A Waheed, Director of Urdu Academy Prof. S A Shukoor, and members of the Haj Committee were present on the occasion. (INN)