Soz seeks increase in Haj quota for JK

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek an increase in the quota for Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir.

The Haj Committee, Mumbai, which had fixed a quota of 6,617 for Haj 2006-II, should be directed to increase the number, Prof. Soz told the Prime Minister.

As many as 12,893 people have applied for the pilgrimage so far this year, according to the state Haj Committee. For Haj 2006-I, the Haj Committee had accepted the applications of all 9,198 applicants.

Prof. Soz urged the Prime Minister to increase the quota for the state so that all those who want to undertake the pilgrimage this year could go to Mecca.

The Union Minister, who submitted a memorandum to Dr Singh, also met Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed on the issue.

''Allowing all these people to go would convey a 'positive' signal to the people and would be in tune with the Prime Minister's efforts to strengthen the process of normalisation in the state,'' Prof. Soz said.

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