Filing of Haj applications likely to be extended

Telangana government is trying to get an additional 2,000 seats for Haj pilgrims of the State. This will be over and above the 1,000 extra seats the State stands to get as a result of restoration of the 20 per cent quota cut announced by the Saudi government for India.

With the State, Haj quota being just 2,532, many aspirants are left disappointed every year. Therefore, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is expected to make a representation to the Government of India for accommodating more number of pilgrims from



Telangana this year.

Deputy Chief Minister Muhammed Mehmood Ali has already requested the Union Minority Affairs Minister Syed Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, to raise the Telangana Haj quota to 5,000.

The Haj Committee of India is likely to extend the last date for filing of Haj applications from January 24 in view of the rush of applications. Haj Committee officials expect the number of applications this year to cross the 20,000 mark. Till date 10,273 applications have been received from Hyderabad alone.