Haj Bhavan to come up at Adyar

Minister for Minorities Welfare, Haj and Wakf B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan said that the Haj Bhavan will be constructed in front of the Adyar-Kannur Masjid.

The site marked earlier was near the Mangaluru International Airport.

Addressing a gathering of Haj pilgrims on Ansar PU School premises at Bajpe on Saturday, Khan said, “If the Haj Bhavan is constructed on the identified land at Bajpe, then it would be used only for Haj pilgrimage. Hence, it has been decided to construct the Bhavan in front of the masjid at Adyar. The Bhavan can be used for marriage and other functions.”

He said that 1 acre land in front of the masjid at Adyar will be purchased for constructing the Haj Bhavan. “I inspected the land and will hold a discussion with the owner of the land. The Department has earmarked Rs 10 crore for the construction of Haj Bhavan,” he added.

“As per Quran, there is a sanctity for Haj pilgrimage. A rich may visit Haj several times in his lifetime. Instead, a rich man should help a poor to go on a Haj pilgrimage, which is a great service,” said the minister.

“I have been sending the Imams of masjids for Haj pilgrimage for the last 22 years. This time, I am bearing the expenses of 52 Imams for their pilgrimage. I want all the religious heads to go on Haj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime,” Khan said.

“During the Haj pilgrimage, one need to pray for the welfare of the country. There are false propaganda against Muslim community members, which needs to be checked. There is a need to pray for communal harmony in the country,” he requested.

Minister for Urban Development and Housing U T Khader said that the Karnataka State Haj Committee will provide all the facilities for the pilgrims. He appealed to the pilgrims not to get confused over any delay in the arrival of the flight.

The Karnataka State Haj Committee had received 18,247 applications. Karnataka was allotted a quota of 6,624, of which 686 reserved category. As many as 658 persons (age 70 and above, 28 ladies) were selected without Qurrah or draw of lots. The remaining 5,938 were selected in Qurrah. The pilgrims from Karnataka will proceed to Haj pilgrimage from four embark points – Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Goa and Hyderabad.

Three chartered Haj flights, with 146 pilgrims in each flight, from Mangaluru International Airport, will operate till July 23.

The flights from Goa is scheduled to start between July 26 and 28. Around 270 pilgrims from Belagavi and North Karnataka districts will use the facility from Goa. The Haj flights from Bengaluru will operate between August 1 and 15. As many as 19 Haj flights, with 300 pilgrims in each flight, will travel from Bengaluru.

MLC B M Farooq, former MLA B A Mohiuddin Bava, District Wakf Board Committee President U K Kanachur Monu and others were present.