Maharashtra: Congress stages agitation for opening of Haj House in Aurangabad

Congress party workers on Tuesday staged a protest in Maharashtras Aurangabad The activists of Congress party have demanded that the Haj House constructed in the city for pilgrims be opened reported the PTIAt least 15 to 20 activists of the Congress Aurangabad city unit were detained when they reached the gate of the Haj House in QilaeArk area of the city an official said according to the PTIA Haj House building has been reportedly constructed in QilaeArk area for pilgrims undertaking HajThough the construction has been completed the Haj House remains closed and cannot be used for the purpose for which it was built Hence we staged an agitation today Congress city president Shaikh Yusuf told reporters as per the PTIThe party will intensify its agitation if the facility is not made operational in the next 15 days he saidMeanwhile last weekKeralas first womenonly Haj flight took off on Thursday from Calicut International Airport at Karipur after Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla flagged off the flight the ANI had reported on June 9Barla performed the symbolic flagoff ceremony and distribution of boarding passes for the first flightThis was the first time that only womens flight has been organised for Haj in Kerala The pilot and crew of the aircraft are all womenThe Air India Express flight left Karipur at 645 pm carrying 145 women pilgrims and six women crew marking the first such flight from Kerala for women pilgrims without mehram or a male companionBarla said that the womenonly flight marked a glorious step for womens empowerment in the country and requested the pilgrims to pray for the countrys safety and security as well as progressApart from the 145 women pilgrims travelling in the plane the pilot who flew this plane and the other crew members of the plane as well as the dispatch flight operation loading cleaning engineering ground service and other related activities at all levels were done by women making this trip differentMinister inaugurated the distribution of boarding passes by giving to 76yearold Sulaikha the senior most member of the teamThe minister expressed happiness over the arrangements being made for the pilgrims by the State Haj CommitteeEleven flights have been scheduled till Monday only for women pilgrims leaving via Karipur airport 1595 women pilgrim belonging to the ladies without Mehram category will depart on several days in eleven flightsThe rest will travel on other flights2733 people are leaving this year from the state through the ladies without mehram category Out of this 1718 people will depart via Karipur 563 via Kochi and 452 via Kannur embarkation pointsThis years oldest woman pilgrim Khadiumma 87 a native of Nediyirup in Malappuram district will depart on the 420 am flight on June 1069 men and 76 women took off from Karipur at nine oclock in the morning on flight IX 3021 on Thursday71 men and 74 women travelled from Kannur airport today afternoonThe second flight from Kochi will leave from will leave at 1130 tomorrowIn Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy who met the batch of Muslims leaving for Mecca at the Haj House here on Thursday said that the Government has appointed a Haj Committee which is accompanying the pilgrims to ensure hasslefree journeyThis is the first time that pilgrims are leaving for Haj from the Vijayawada embarkation pointDeputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha who is accompanying you will take care of you and will inform me in case of any need the CM said wishing pilgrims all the bestEvery year millions of Muslims around the world embark on a sacred pilgrimage known as Haj This spiritual journey holds immense significance in the lives of believers offering an opportunity to connect with Allah seek forgiveness and strengthen their faith The heartfelt desire to be among those walking to Mina echoing the Labaik with the crowd and performing the rituals of Haj is a sentiment shared by countless individualswith PTI and ANI inputs