Hyderabad: Muslim community is irked about the political colour being given to the Haj camp and the send-off of pilgrims at the Haj House in Nampally. Several community members questioned the TS Haj Committee for allowing so many banners to come up around the premises.
The banners were hung right from the main gate of the Haj House building right till the Haj camp.
“This is a religious affair, it is not proper on part of the political parties to hang their banners on the premises and try to gain political mileage out of the holy ritual,” said Tehreek Muslim Shabban, president, Mohd Mushtaq Malik.
A social activist Mr S. M. Abdul Samad pointed out that the TS Haj Committee till recently did not allow any banner or cut-outs to come up on the premises. “How can the TS Haj Committee keep mum when people are trying to add a touch of politics to the Haj camp? In fact, it should not encourage politicians to flag off the convoys,” he said. Leaders of various political parties, including the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the Congress, the Bhartiya Janata Party, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, and others flag ofg the convoys at the Haj House during the fortnight. About 4,000 odd persons from Telangana are leaving for Haj.
Professor S. A. Shukhoor, special officer, Telangana State Haj Committee, said that the banners and cut-outs were pasted without obtaining the permission of the committee.
On Saturday, Congress leader Feroz Khan, who had unsuccessfully contested the elections from Nampally on a TDP ticket in 2014, faced the ire of Haj pilgrims and community elders. While delivering a speech during the send-off programme at the Haj House, he tried to give a political touch to his speech by saying “When Congress comes to power in 2019.”
However, several community elders and Haj pilgrims interrupted him and asked him not to bring politics in to Haj pilgrimage-related event.
Mr Khan later apologised for his remarks.
