As many as 584 Haj pilgrims from Telangana, Marathwada and Hyderabad Karnataka regions have been selected for free accommodation in the Nizam’s Rubat in holy city of Makkah during Haj 2015.
Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali inaugurated the Qurrah (Draw of lots) for selection of 584 Haj pilgrims from Telangana, Marhatwada and Hyderabad Karnataka regions, which were earlier part of erstwhile Hyderabad State, at Haj House, Nampally here on Saturday. He announced that not only the Haj pilgrims from the erstwhile Nizam State area would get free accommodation, but they would also get free food and laundry facilities. He said that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao and the State Government were keen to solve the issue as the pilgrims could not avail the Rubat facilities for the past three years.
He thanked Hussain Shareef, Nazer of Rubat (Administrator), for agreeing to provide free accommodation to 597 Haj pilgrims as against the original provision of 264 pilgrims. He also hoped that in future all the Haj pilgrims from Telangana would get free accommodation in Makkah. He said that the pilgrims selected for Rubat accommodation would get benefit of Rs. 44, 710 per head.
Nampally MLA Jaffer Hussain Meraj appreciated the endeavours for providing accommodation to the Haj pilgrims and said that the entire process of selection of Haj pilgrims was going on in a transparent manner. He hoped that only the most deserving should get the opportunity. Syed Omer Jaleel, Special Secretary to Government, Minorities Welfare Department appreciated the efforts of Janab Mahmood Ali in sorting out the Rubat accommodation issue.
Hussain Shareef said that he considered the opportunity to serve the Haj pilgrims as an act for good reward. His father late Shareef Mohammed Advocate served the pilgrims for 30 years and now he was taking care of the pilgrims in Rubat. He said that pilgrims from 21 districts of the erstwhile Nizam State need not apply separately for Rubat facility as the draw would be conducted from the entire list of selected pilgrims.
Prof. S. A. Shukoor Special Officer Telangana State Haj Committee presided over the function and said that 584 pilgrims were selected through draw and 12 seats were allotted to the family members of the Nizam. He said that all the selected pilgrims would be informed individually. On 584 pilgrims selected, 297 belong to Telangana State and the remaining to Hyderabad Karnataka and Marhatwada regions. A total of 26 pilgrims were selected under waiting list. (INN)