BJP activists protest rejection of Hajis’ applications

MUMBAI - The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Minority Morcha Monday demonstrated outside the Haj House here to protest the last minute rejection of Haj pilgrimmage applications of about 1,000 people.

“The Central Haj Committe of India last week rejected applications of 980 people who had applied for a Haj visa nearly two months back,” said Hyder Azam, president of the Morcha.

“These people have paid the necessary fees and have followed the advisory. Now when they are rejected, it is unfair,” Azam said.

Around 350 activists took part in the protest. Later, a six-member delegation met the chief executive officer of the Haj committee and demanded that the 980 people be granted visas for the Haj.

“We were told the quota for Hajis has been exceeded and hence the visas of 980 people have been rejected. But the truth is that the corrupt officials and ministers from various political parties have taken advantage of their positions to help their friends and relatives get the visas,” Azam alleged.

“However, we have finally managed to get a confirmation that visas of 850 Hajis will be cleared soon,” he added.

Azam said they had demanded that the remaining 130 pilgrims also get their visas under the “goodwill delegation” quota.