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Srinagar, Aug 23 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government has taken up the issue of increase in the haj quota with the Centre, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Hamid Karra informed the Legislative Assembly here today.

He said the Central Haj Committee meeting was held here two days ago in which the issue of increasing the seats for the state was taken up.

The issue was also taken up with the central government, he said.

However, he informed the house that additional quota for the haj aspirants from the state was being released only in case the other state did not consume their full allotted quota.

It is the government of Saudi Arabia which is allotting quota of seats to different countries as per their population. Similarly, the Centre is also allotting seats to states as per their muslim population and we too are getting our quota under the same norms, he said.

He said the state has forcibly projected the case before the Centre and expected a positive response.

''We have biggest claim incase there are seats available with the Centre,'' he assured the members.

Earlier, the leader of the opposition Abdul Rahim Rather, raising the issue during zero hour alleged that only half of the quota was allotted to the state this year as compared to last year.

Since our is the only muslim majority state in the country, we should get extra quota because of large number of haj aspirants, he demanded.

He said due to the efforts of the state government, last year additional quota was allotted to the state. But, he said, those who were selected under the additional quota had to face accommodation and other problems during the pilgrimage.

Mr Rather said to avoid such a problem this time, the state government should take up the issue with the Centre early and accordingly book accommodation and other facilities for the pilgrims.

UNI