AP PILGRIMS TO STAY IN HOTELS NEAR HAJ HOUSE

Police escort sought from Nampally to Shamshabad

Those bound for Haj pilgrimage from Andhra Pradesh will be provided accommodation in private hotels in the city as the Haj House lacks “adequate space.” Around 3,000 persons from AP will be going from Hyderabad as there is no Haj embarkment point in Andhra Pradesh.

The AP Haj committee was bifurcated two years back with separate committees formed for the two Telugu States. This is the second year when the AP pilgrims completed their process and got selected through local Haj committee.

Till last year, pilgrims from Telangana, AP and some districts of Karnataka would stay at the Haj House for 2 to 3 days before leaving for the journey.

“Last year there were complaints of improper accommodation from some. There is not enough space at Haj House as several offices of minority welfare department function from there,” said Mr. Mohd Liyaqath Ali, executive officer, AP state Haj committee.

The AP Haj committee had booked around five hotels in the vicinity of Haj House.

“The pilgrims will stay there before embarking on the journey. The AP government has released a budget of `3 crore for it,” said the official. Student organisations federation affiliated to the Left parties have called for an education bandh in Telangana state on July 21 to resolve problems. Student organisations had requested all the educational institutions, professors and students to participate in the bandh.

Student’s organisations allege that Telangana government has failed to deliver ‘KG to PG free education’ and was shutting down 4,600 schools and colleges.