Haj applications may be linked to Aadhaar

Lucknow: The UP government is considering linking the Haj application process with Aadhaar to ensure “greater transparency” in selection of pilgrims. Officials say that this would help in identifying those who had undertaken the pilgrimage more than once. Minister of state for minority affairs Mohsin Raza said, “This would help the government identify genuine applicants.”

Lucknow, March 26: The Uttar Pradesh government is mulling to link the Haj application process with the Aadhaar number of the applicant to ensure “greater transparency” in selection of pilgrims.

Officials believe that this would help in identifying those who had undertaken the pilgrimage more than once.

Minister of state for minority affairs in UP government Mohsin Raza, told PTI, “We are planning to link the process of filing of the Haj application with the Aadhaar number of the applicant, so as to check whether the applicant had undertaken Haj earlier or not. This would ensure greater transparency.” This would help the government identify the genuine applicants.

“The process is about to start, and soon some concrete mechanism would be put in place,” he asserted.

Asked whether the process of filing of Haj application would also be linked to Income Tax returns, Mr Raza said there was no such proposal. “We will bring transparency and honesty to the system under our government. It should not be like I allow only my family and relatives to avail the benefits,” the minister said. The minister emphasised that the state government would ensure sabka saath, sabka vikaas.

BJP leader Mazhar Abbas, said, “If linking Aadhaar with the Haj application process could ensure transparency, then it must be incorporate into the system.”