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First batch of Haj pilgrims from TS leaves for Jeddah
The first batch of Haj pilgrims from Telangana left for Jeddah on Sunday. A Saudi Airlines flight carrying 350 pilgrims took off at 4 p.m. from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamsabad.
Political leaders greet them at Haj House
The first batch of Haj pilgrims from Telangana State leaving from Hyderabad on Sunday
Hyderabad: The first batch of Haj pilgrims from Telangana left for Jeddah on Sunday. A Saudi Airlines flight carrying 350 pilgrims took off at 4 p.m. from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamsabad. The flight was originally scheduled to take off at 11.30 a.m., but it got delayed for four-and-a-half hours.
Earlier, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali flagged off the buses carrying the pilgrims at the Haj House at Nampally in the heart of the city.
Clad in 'Ihram' or special white clothing for Haj and amid chanting of prayers, the pilgrims boarded the buses after completing customs, luggage and immigration formalities.
Emotional scenes were witnessed at the Haj House as relatives of pilgrims and well-wishers bid adieu to them with request to pray for them at the holy places.
However, the flagging off of the first batch of Haj pilgrims turned into a political gathering with the TRS leaders and activists outnumbering the pilgrims and their relatives who came to see them off. The Deputy CM Md Mahmood Ali arrived at the Haj House at about 7.20 am. He was accompanied by Government Whip Aamir Shakeel and MLC Mohammed Saleem. The three politicians spoke at length explaining the various initiatives being taken by the TRS government for the welfare of minorities.
Several TRS activists also barged into the venue of Haj camp and some of them even occupied the seats meant for the pilgrims. The pilgrims were forced to remain seated till 8 a.m. in the Haj House.
Congress MLC Farooq Hussain strongly condemned the chaos that prevailed during the flagging off of the first batch of pilgrims.
Speaking to media persons, Farooq Hussain said that the TRS government did not make proper arrangements both at the Haj House and at the Haj Terminal of airport. He alleged that there was no proper coordination between the Haj Committee officials.
Farooq Hussain also alleged that the TRS leaders tried to take political mileage out of a pious and religious event.
This is the first Haj after the formation of the Telangana State. About 6,000 pilgrims from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka are leaving for Haj by 18 flights of Saudi Airlines to be operated till September 22.
Over 400 pilgrims from Chittoor and Anatapur districts of Andhra Pradesh will fly from Bangalore. Over 1.36 lakh Indians will perform Haj this year. The Haj rituals begin in the first week of October.
