Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A proposal to transfer the Central Haj Committee of India from the Ministry of External Affairs to the Ministry of Minority Affairs could soon see the light of day, former Union minister of India and Chairman of the Long-Term Accommodation Committee (LTAC) Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told Saudi Gazette in an interview. In such a case Haj affairs will still be handled by Indian consulate in Jeddah, but the application process and other formalities will come under the purview of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, he said. The Central Haj Committee (CHC) was established under the Haj Committee Act of 2002 for making arrangements for the pilgrimage to Makkah. According to unconfirmed reports, the Narendra Modi government has implemented what the Congress-led government of Manmohan Singh had decided in 2014. Now the CHC will be handled by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Shahnawaz, who was recently in the Kingdom, said that he is planning to appoint a consultant to set parameters for renting long-term accommodation for pilgrims undertaking the journey of a lifetime. "Many Saudi banks and companies have expressed interest in supporting the initiative to offer the best possible services to Indian pilgrims," he said. "We don't want to rent small buildings. We are moving toward permanent long-term accommodation in which big firms and banks offer support," said Shahnawaz, who visited the Kingdom last year with the same purpose. Last time some towers were shortlisted, but the deal did not materialize because the buildings did not have kitchens. Last year, A+ buildings were rented for 7,000 pilgrims for a period of three to five years. But the plan of LTAC is to rent buildings for 10 to 15 years. Shahnawaz said that LTAC will also have a website for people to share their suggestions so as to maintain transparency in the accommodation selection process. "This is an honest effort. We want to offer the best facilities to Indian pilgrims," he said. The LTAC chairman is aware of the fact that the Saudi government does not endorse long-term accommodation contracts for pilgrims. However, the government does not object to long-term accommodation arrangements with yearly contract renewals. The purpose is to find long-term accommodation in view of the growing number of Indians coming for Haj. After the completion of the expansion work at the Grand Mosque, the number of Indian pilgrims is likely to go up to 200,000, said Shahnawaz, expressing optimism that there will be an increase in the quota of Hajis from his country. "Our pilgrims are the most disciplined," he said, and expanded the adjective to cover the Indians working in the Kingdom. "Indians living here have made India proud. Their contribution to the Indian economy is also appreciated." As a Muslim face of the BJP, Shahnawaz listed the initiatives the government has taken for the development of minorities who feel that they have been marginalized. "We have increased the fund through the Ministry of Minority Affairs to modernize madrasas (seminaries). We are trying to bring more and more minority children to schools because we believe that education is a must to stop our children from going astray." Listing the agenda of the Modi government for its remaining term, Shahnawaz said that it will work for a peaceful, prosperous and development oriented India. "A strong India, an India with opportunities for all and equal partnership for all in development. And to make minorities realize that we are pro-development," he said, emphasizing three times "development, development, and development." But one of the most important cogs in the wheel of development is the Goods Services Tax (GST) bill which has been stalled by the opposition. The budget session of parliament, which began on Tuesday, will once again test the government's resolve to pass the GST bill as well as other legislations. "We will try and pass these bills, especially the GST," said Shahnawaz. "Oppose the BJP, but don't oppose the GST," he said, addressing the opposition in his trademark husky voice.
