KCR urges Centre to increase Haj quota to 4500

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Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today urged the Centre to increase Haj quota to 4500 persons for Telangana State.
In a letter addressed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, the Chief Minister said the Centre gave nod to only 2,532 Haj pilgrims as against 17,000 applications for the purpose. He said there are 44.74 lakh Muslims in Telangana State, who wish to make a pilgrimage to the holy shrine. However, the Centre gave permission only to a few leaving the rest in despair, KCR observed. Keeping the Muslim population in view and enthusiasm of number of applicants, the centre should take adequate steps, he urged. (NSS)