State ask Govt to raise Huj quota

Srinagar, Aug 4: Jammu and Kashmir government will approach the centre for increase in the haj quota as 13000 applications from the intending pilgrims have been received against 6000 seats allotted to the state.

Speaking during zero hour in the Legislative Council, minister for Haj and Auqaf, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed said that the state government had received 13000 applications from people intending to perform the haj pilgrimage this year.

However, he said, only 6000 seats were allotted to the state, forcing the government to elect the pilgrims by draw of lots.

Sharing the concern of the members, he said that it is true that everyone wanted to undertake the pilgrimage before his death. There is a quota for each country fixed by the Saudi Arabia, he said accordingly centre also has fixed a quota for each state as per the population.

He said last year some states had not availed the full quota allotted to them and later the seats were allotted to us.

We are taking up the matter with the centre and also Saudi Arabia government to increase the seats for the state to 10000 against present 6000.

He said all the pilgrims have been selected and those in the waiting list will be accommodated only once we get additional quota from the centre.

The leader of the opposition National Conference (NC) Abdul Rahim Rather appealed to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to use his influence so that seats are increased to accomodate all those who have applied.

UNI