No pilgrim should be stopped from performing Haj: Mehbooba

Srinagar, Sep 30 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Mehbooba Mufti, today said there was absolutely no logic in preventing a pilgrim from performing Haj merely on the basis of his political affiliation.

'' It is disgusting to note that if the government has no objection in the visits of the separatist leaders to Pakistan, Europe and the US, why are ordinary civilians being prevented from performing their religious duties'', she questioned.

Indirectly referring to leaders of different separatist organisations and Jamaat-e-Islami, who were not cleared by the local intelligence agencies, the PDP chief Ms Mehbooba Mufti said there are instances, when some pilgrims have been disallowed from proceeding to Haj on one pretext or other.

Ironically, she said in some cases some pilgrims were forced to turn back from the airport even after being issued valid travel documents for undertaking the pilgrimage.

She said such an ugly moment creates not only an embarrassing situation for the pilgrim and his family, but also hurts the religious sentiments.

Ms Mufti said has being one of the fundamental religious duties in Islam, nobody should be allowed to create hurdles in performing the same.

However if there is some extreme exigency, the person or persons in question must be informed well in advance instead of preventing such pilgrims at the last moment from performing the pilgrimage, she said adding that the government must issue clear instructions to the concerned authorities.

About the Haj quota, she urged the state and central Haj committee to increase the quota for state at the earliest to remove uncertainty over the issue.

Ms Mufti said in her recent meetings with the UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi and various Central government functionaries she was assured that all possible steps would be taken to increase the Haj quota.

She demanded the Haj quota of Union Minister of State for External Affairs should be diverted to Jammu and Kashmir to accomodate as many pilgrims as possible.

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