Draw of lots for Haj pilgrims would be held on March 5

Pilgrims for ‘Haj 2017’ from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will be selected through ‘qurrah’ (draw of lots) on March 5. Efforts would be made to increase the quota for Telangana to at least 5,000 from 2,800 last year.External Affairs Minister Shushma Swaraj would be represented in this regard, said Deputy Chief Minister Muhammed Mehmood Ali, here on Monday.

Speaking after releasing the Haj applications, he said a few pilgrims from Hyderabad got selected last year as the selection of applicants was made on the basis of district-wise population of Muslims.

This time round, Statewide ‘qurrah’ would be done and Muslims in Hyderabad who apply in large numbers would get a fair deal, Ali said.He said the State was lucky to get a minority-friendly



Chief Minister in K Chandrashekar Rao. He wanted no efforts to be spared for providing facilities to Haj pilgrims. Money would not be a constraint at all. Efforts would be made to provide free accommodation to 1,100 pilgrims from Telangana, against 690 last year in the Nizam Rubat also.

AK Khan, advisor to the government on Minority Affairs, asked pilgrims to be wary of private tour operators. Every year, about 150 to 200 cases of cheating came to light.

Telangana State Haj Committee Special Officer Prof SA Shukoor said pilgrims, who opted for ‘green category’ this year, would not be allowed to cook as per the Saudi government rules.

Pilgrims for Rubat would be selected through qurrah only from the ‘Aziza’ category, he said.