New Delhi: Speaking in chaste Urdu and delivering a speech designed to charm the Muslims, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Monday promised a hassle-free haj and improved facilities, at the same time requested Saudi Arabia to withdraw the 20 per cent cut in India's quota for the annual pilgrimage.
"Most people get an opportunity to go to Makkah for Haj only once in their lifetime. People collect money for years to go for Haj. Our effort will be to make the journey of pilgrims comfortable," Sushma Swaraj said while addressing the All-India Annual Conference for Haj.
The External Affairs Minister said Hajj pilgrims often face difficulties due to delays or cancellation of Hajj flights and asked Air India to improve services at all the 12 embarkation points given to it.
"There is lack of proper facilities for pilgrims in buildings in Makkah and other adjoining areas for pilgrims. We would like our consulate and Haj Committee of India to ensure all basic facilities in the buildings," she said.
"I was told that out of 12 given to Air India, eight were given on contract to private airlines and whose aircraft were old. We will not allow that kind of risk", she said.
On the cut in the Hajj quota from last year's 1.70 lakh to 1.36 lakh in the current year, she said adding that the issue will be taken up with Saudi Arabia.
Noting that accommodation for pilgrims is a major issue, the minister said there was a need to think about a long-term solution to the issue and indicated that the government may go for having its own accommodation for Indian pilgrims in Mecca and neighbouring areas.
"We can develop some complex in the area in cooperation with Saudi government. They can be used for Haj pilgrimage for three months and for the remaining nine months people going for Umrah and Ziyarat can stay there," she said.
She also hinted instituting an inquiry into the disappearance of some 64 prized Indian guesthouses in the twin holy Saudi Arabian cities of Makkah and Madina.
These guesthouses known as "Rabaat", were built over the years by erstwhile Nawabs of various Indian provinces to accommodate pilgrims of their regions. After Independence, though their ownership was transferred to the Indian government, there is no trace of them today.
"We need to inquire, what happened to the properties donated for Hajis by the Indian rulers. Even, if they had been acquired and demolished by the Saudi authorities, a big question looms, why no one in the Indian government ever asked for alternative sites or compensation", she said. .
Resolving to improve the facilities, she said, "I have seen many times that Haji goes with happiness and comes back disappointed."
The External Affairs Minister also criticised Air India for charging more from those travelling from Srinagar as against those travelling from designated airports.
"I was surprised to know that Air India had last year charged 1.54 lakh as ticket cost per pilgrim for those who had taken flight from Srinagar when the cost from other embarkation points was around Rs 62,802. It was a burden for pilgrims from Kashmir. We will try to ensure justice to them," she said.
The Minister, a polyglot who is fluent in Punjabi, Hindi, English, Kannada and even a smattering of Bengali, spoke in chaste Urdu.
"Mein Haj Committee ke saath zaireen ki khidmat kar ke sawaab kama rahi hoon (With the Haj Committee, I am privileged to serve the pilgrims)," said Swaraj to a deeply moved audience.
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