KCR Demands 2,000 Additional Haj Slots For State

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has demanded an increase in the quota for Haj pilgrims from Telangana.

In his letter to the Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, KCR complained that Telangana had been allocated a meagre number of Haj slots for 2015.

"I am informed that during the previous year, the quota allotted to the then combined state of Andhra Pradesh was 5,580, and subsequently after allotment of cancelled seats etc., a total of 6,043 Hajis performed Haj from the combined state of Andhra Pradesh during Haj 2014," he said.

"It is very surprising that the quota of Hajis has been reduced to 4,945 (2,700 and 2,245 slots for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh respectively). The demand in Telangana for Haj slots is very high. As many as 15,419 persons applied for the 1,223 slots left open after reservation - i. e., more than 12 persons vied for every slot. The position in Hyderabad is more acute as 23 persons applied for every slot available," said the Chief Minister.

Compared to this, the Chief Minister said that the situation in Andhra Pradesh was comfortable as there was one slot for less than two applicants.

"It is clear that the demand for Haj slots in Telangana is five times higher than that in Andhra Pradesh, and the non-availability of adequate slots to Telangana Muslims has led to widespread disappointment and despair," he said.

KCR requested Sushma Swaraj to intervene personally and use her discretion to allot an additional 2,000 slots to Hyderabad and do justice to the people of Telangana. (INN)