Deputy Chief Minister of Telengana Mohammed Mahmoud Ali (3rd R) with Consul General B.S. Mubarak (3rd L), Hassan M. Shareef (2nd R), caretaker of Rubat Nizam, and other officials in Makkah. — SG photo Syeda Amtul Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — An accommodation problem involving Indian pilgrims from Hyderabad who were to stay at the Nizam Rubat endowment building in Makkah for the upcoming Haj has been solved with the recent visit of the deputy chief minister of the Indian state of Telangana who was able to secure an agreement where 600 pilgrims will be offered free accommodation. Mohammed Mahmoud Ali, who is on a short visit to the Kingdom, held successful talks with Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak and Hassan M. Shareef, caretaker of Rubat Nizam. Speaking to Saudi Gazette, the minister said: “It has been decided that we will select the 600 pilgrims from Hyderabad by lottery on May 22 or 23 at the Haj House premises in Hyderabad in the presence of the Indian consul general and caretaker of the Rubat Nizam in Makkah." He added that the government of Telanaga would provide full support to the endowment committee and caretaker of the Rubat Nizam in Makkah. The arrangements for pilgrims living in Rubat Nizam will be fully taken care of by Shareef. Syed Omar Jaleel, special secretary to the minority commission board, Telangana, said the chosen 600 pilgrims would be reimbursed by India's Central Haj Committee. A letter has been sent from Mubarak to the committee to conduct the lottery for the pilgrims. The Nizam rubats in Makkah and Madinah were endowments established by the Nizams of Hyderabad who belonged to the Asaf Jahi Dynasty to provide residential accommodation for pilgrims from Hyderabad visiting the holy cities. Shareef said: “At present 250 pilgrims can stay in Rubat Nizam in Makkah but we can fit in 600 pilgrims by securing two to three more adjacent buildings very soon.”
