Pray for protection from violent gau rakshaks: Minister tells Haj pilgrims

Mangaluru, Jul 24: The much awaited Haj Bhavan, being built by the state government in this coastal city, would be ready by the next haj season (2018), according to Haj Minister R Roshan Baig.

He was speaking at a farewell programme for the pilgrims organised by the Karnataka State Haj Committee at Ansar School, located near Mangaluru International Airport on Monday morning.

He urged the Haj pilgrims to pray for the peace and communal harmony in India in general and Karnataka in particular during their pilgrimage.

“Miscreants are spreading violence and killing people in the name of cow protection. Do not forget to pray for the protection of innocent people from violent gau rakshaks,” he said.

The programme began with a dua by Dakshina Kannada Khazi Thwaka Ahmed Musliyar. Udupi Khazi Ibrahim Musliyar Bekal gave a pep talk to the pilgrims.

Mulki-Moodbidri MLA K Abhaychandra Jain presided over. District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai, Food Minister U T Khader, legislators B A Mohiddin Bava, Ivan D’Souza, DK Wakf Advisory Committee president SM Rasheed Haji, Muslim Central Committee president KS Mohammed Masood were present among others.

This year’s first of Haj pilgrims from Karnataka would begin the sacred journey today at 4:15 p.m. from the terminal of the airport today. On July 25 and 26 the flights would take off at 12.55 p.m. and 4.15 p.m.

Nearly 6,000 pilgrims will participate in the pilgrimage from Karnataka. These pilgrims were selected from among 23,514 applicants, on the basis of draw of lots, except those aged above 70.

Over 4.48 lakh people have applied online for the pilgrimage in the country this season. However, Saudi Arabia offered a quota of 1.7 lakh to India. Of them, 45,000 would travel through private travel agencies, while 1.25 lakh would travel through Haj Committees.

Pilgrims from the State would leave from Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Goa and Hyderabad. As many as 780 pilgrims from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru districts would leave from Mangaluru.