AP's demand on hike in Haj quota difficult to meet:Ahmed

Hyderabad, Sep 8 (UNI) Even as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today urged the Centre to provide the state its ''due share'' in the Haj quota, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahmed maintained it was very difficult to meet the demand of various states for hiking the quota with the waiting list of the pilgrims standing at 80,000.

''Even UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi has acknowledged that quota cannot be created from heaven,'' Mr Ahmed said while presiding over the All India Annual Haj Conference-II attended by delegates from 22 states. After Indonesia, the second largest contingent of pilgrims was from India.

Mr Ahmed said he was leaving Andhra Pradesh's demand for increasing its quota from the present 6,820 by at least 1,000 to his senior Pranab Mukherjee.

Informing Varanasi would be the 16th embarkation point this year for the pilgrims, Mr Ahmed said while Indian would handle ten points, Saudi Arabian Airlines would handle six. Arrangements had been made to accommodate as many as 85,000 people at a time in Jeddah.

Earlier, inaugurating the conference, Dr Reddy urged the Centre to fix the state's Haj quota based on the population of Muslims as per the 2001 census.

While states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were getting a ''lion's share'' in the quota, Andhra Pradesh had not been given its ''due share,'' he lamented.

Stating Ms Gandhi was very particular in improving the amenities for the pilgirms, he said the country's quota was increased by 38,000 to 1.57 lakh after the UPA Government assumed office.

Mr Mukherjee, in his in absentia address, said the UPA Government was fully geared up to ensure smooth Haj Pilgrimage this year and wanted all states to comply with the Centre's direction to constitute State Haj Committees early.

As many as eight additional ambulances were sanctioned for meeting the medical needs of the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, he said, adding top priority would be accorded to providing training for pilgrims.

The Haj Committee of India had decided to directly confirm those pilgrims who were 75 years and above without including them in 'Qurrah''(draw of lots).

The pilgrims should submit polio vaccination certificate to the Haj Committee of India or the State Haj Committee as the Saudi Arabian Embassy had made it mandatory from this year, he added.

UNI