Hope for disappointed Haj pilgrims

The disappointed pilgrims camping in the Haj Camp on Millers Road since last Wednesday as their names were removed in a fraudulent manner to accommodate VIP pilgrims.

However, if Aboo Backer, Vice-Chairman of the Haj Committee of India is to be believed, only 300 to 350 amon them can fly to Mecca. Backer said over telephone: “The damage has already been done. The Haj Committee of India, the Government of India are in constant touch with the Saudi Arabian government to get the visas by Monday evening. Though we have asked them to accommodate all of them, only 300-350 of them may get it.”

By Sunday morning

According to press secretary to the chairman of the Karnataka State Haj Committee Abdul Wajid, out of the State’s quota of 7,200, nearly 6,500 people will be leaving for Mecca by Sunday morning.

He said: “There is no problem if we get 300-350 confirmations out of 461. We will refund the whole amount to the pilgrims who are not going to Mecca after finalising the list on Monday.”