Haj pilgrims return after successful pilgrimage

Chennai, Jan 3 (UNI) The first batch of 282 Indian pilgrims landed here today by a special aircraft from Jeddah after the Haj pilgrimage.

Tamil Nadu Haj Committee Vice-Chairman Aboo Bucker told UNI this was the first batch of Haj pilgrims to North India. Of the 282, there were 192 men, six children and 84 women. This was a mixed batch consisting Government sponsored pilgrims and pilgrims who went on their own.

He said from India, 1.57 lakh people including 11,800 from Tamil Nadu were undertaking Haj pilgrimage this year. Of those from the state, a little over 3000 were sponsored by the Government, he added.

Mr Aboo Bucker, also a member of the Indian Haj Committee said the the rest of the Indian Haj pilgrims would return from tomorrow over three or four weeks.

This year's Haj pilgrimage went off well, thanks to God almighty, he said. He expressed gratitude for excellent arrangements by the administration of Saudi Arabia under the Leadership of Prince Naifbin Abdul Azeez, Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Mr Aboo Bucker also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for making necessary arrangements for the Indian Haj pilgrims, especially Tamil Nadu.

The Muslim Community in Tamil Nadu was grateful to Mr Karunanidhi for his kind gesture towards Muslim minorities, he added.

UNI