New Delhi, August 28: The Centre has ordered a judicial inquiry into the charges that large-scale irregularities took place in allotting Haj quota to travel agencies during the tenure of E Ahamed as former Minister of State for External Affairs.
Ahamed, who is now an MoS in Railway Ministry, is accused of favouring Kerala-based travel agency Al-Hind Tours, which reportedly shared close proximity with Ahamed’s son and Muslim League leaders.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Rehman Khan, who is also the Chairman of Haj Committee, is understood to have received several complaints of favouritism shown by the Minister towards the Kerala-based travel operators.
The CPI(M) has demanded the resignation of Ahamed in the wake of initiation of judicial probe. Demanding Ahamed’s resignation, CPI(M) Politburo member and Kerala State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Government’s decision to order judicial probe reveals that Ahamed was prima facie involved in the Hajj quota scam.
After he assumed power in External Affairs Ministry in 2004, there was steep increase in the number of pilgrims from Ahamed’s home State Kerala in violation of fixed quota allotted to each State according to the Muslim population. The number of pilgrims from Kerala was much above the number of pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, though it has the highest quota.
The average quota allotted to the travel agencies was 150 passengers. But Al-Hind Tours bagged the quota for ferrying 1,700 passengers.
The CPI(M)’s youth wing DYFI has alleged that Ahamed had misused his position and influenced the Saudi Royal family for providing favours to Al-Hind Tours. There were also reports that Al-Hind Tours charged exorbitant rates.
Meanwhile, responding to the allegations, Ahamed said that these are being raised to settle political scores. “I have only done everything for the welfare of the pilgrims. During my period the total quota was increased. My sons are well settled abroad. They have nothing to do with this. These are baseless allegations. Let the Government inquire,” said Ahamed.
-Agencies