Centre urged to sanction addl Haj applications

Tiruchirapalli, Aug 29 (UNI) Tamil Nadu State Haj Committee vice-president A Aboo Bucker today urged the Centre to sanction the additional applications from the state for Haj pilgrimage.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had taken up the issue with the Centre and expressed hope that it (the Centre) would clear the waiting list of about 3,000 applicants by raising the state quota.

The present allocation of 3,468 for the state and Puducherry was disproportionate to the growth in Muslim population as it was based on a previous census, he argued.

About allegations of irregularities by private Haj operators he said the Committee was looking into the complaints to initiate action against those faulting norms.

The inoculation drive against meningitis for the hajis would be conducted in various parts of the state from tomorrow to September one.

Oral Polio Vaccine would be administered to the hajis along with anti-meningitis vaccine as per the instructions of the Ministry of Health, government of Saudi Arabia to ensure that all the pilgrims are vaccinated, regardless of age, before starting their pilgrimage.

UNI