Haj Sewa Samiti demands constitutional status for Haj Committee

Mumbai, Jun 25 (UNI) The Haj Sewa Samiti today announced a country-wide movement, beginning next month, to press the demand to give the Haj Committee of India a constitutional status.

Addressing a press conference here, Haj Sewa Samiti president Hafiz Naushad Ahmed Azmi said in this connection the samiti will bring a proposal before the Parliament.

Mr Azmi came down heavily on the statement of Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed that the government intends to give constitutional powers to the Haj Committee, stating that this was nothing short of an election stunt and the samiti intends to make it a political issue against Congress in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

He also warned that if the proposal for amendment in the Haj Act is not presented in Parliament in the monsoon session, all the political parties will have to face consequences.

Outlining the need for this right, Mr Azmi said that the pilgrims make payments to the Haj Committee of India and if anything untoward happens during the journey, the Haj Committee is held responsible, hence, it is necessary that State Haj Committees and Haj Committee of India should be given the status of a commission.

This will enable the Haj Committee to get the work done in time, from different organisations, for providing better services to the pilgrims from India.

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