The flagging off of the first batch of Haj pilgrims on Sunday turned into a political gathering with TRS leaders and activists outnumbering the pilgrims and their relatives who had come to see them off.
As many as 350 Haj pilgrims of the first batch were forced to wait for almost 11 hours before they actually left for the holy journey through a chartered flight of Saudi Airlines.
Clad in 'Ahram', the pilgrims started assembling near the Customs' Hall at the Haj House at Nampally since Fajar prayers at about 5am. Although the flight was scheduled at 11:30am from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, the pilgrims assembled for Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali's speech on the occasion.
The Deputy CM arrived at the Haj House at about 7:20am. He was accompanied by TRS MLA Aamir Shakeel and MLC Mohammed Saleem.
Despite the fact that the Haj is a purely religious affair, the three politicians spoke at length explaining the various initiatives being taken by the TRS government for the welfare of the minorities.
While Mahmood Ali tried to convince the pilgrims that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was quite concerned about them, Shakeel praised the Haj Committee for the elaborate arrangements. And Saleem gave personal advice asking the pilgrims not to waste their time in shopping and focus more on prayers.
Several TRS activists barged into the venue of the Haj camp, and some of them even occupied the seats meant for the pilgrims.
The pilgrims were forced to remain seated till 8am, and were not served any breakfast or snacks. Finally, at about 8am, Mahmood Ali flagged off the first of the 9 buses bound for the RGAI. Only after boarding the buses were the pilgrims served snacks by the authorities.
The painful waiting period did not end for the pilgrims even at the airport, as their flight got delayed by 4 hours. Neither the pilgrims nor their relatives who had come to see them off were provided any facilities at the Haj Terminal.
Finally, the first Haj flight left the airport at about 4pm.
The scene is likely to be more disturbing on Monday when Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will flag off the second batch of Haj pilgrims. Several TRS leaders are bound to wrestle with each other to get themselves into the frames of the media cameras alongside the Chief Minister on the occasion. (INN)