Proactive steps taken by Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali to mediate in a dispute between the Awqaf Committee of the Nizam and the caretaker of a ‘Rubaath’ at Makkah has resulted in 597 Haj pilgrims being assured of free accommodation, food and laundry facilities.
Letters despatched
Chief Executive Officer of the Haj Committee of India, Ataur Rahman in a letter dated June 29, to the Awqaf Committee confirmed that allotment letters to this effect were being despatched.
This will enormously help pilgrims in the erstwhile Nizam’s State spread across 10 districts of Telangana, seven in Maharashtra and three in Karnataka.
For the last two years, pilgrims were denied accommodation at the Nizam’s ‘Rubaath’ (guesthouse for pilgrims), in Saudi Arabia because Hussain Sharif who is the ‘Naazer’ (caretaker) of the Rubaath and the Awqaf Committee that manages the Nizam’s endowed properties, did not see eye-to-eye on certain matters.
Arbitration
When he came to know of the issue, Mr. Mahmood Ali took the initiative and summoned both parties.
Secretary-Minorities Welfare, Government of Telangana, Syed Omer Jaleel said once the arbitration process was over, the ‘Qurrah’ (drawal of lots) was conducted on May 30, selecting 597 pilgrims including 12 from what is called the Nizam’s quota for this year’s Haj.
He said the welcome move meant each pilgrim would get back Rs. 46,000 that he would incur on accommodation.
The offer of free food and laundry facilities too, result in substantial savings for the pilgrims, most of whom were almost always from a financially-weak background, said Special Officer, Haj Committee (Telangana) S.A. Shukoor.
Demolition
Mr. Omer Jaleel said that the ‘Rubaath’ was the last of the 11 that were built by the three Nizams (V, VI & VII). While 10 of these were demolished to help expansion of the ‘Qabah’ or ‘Kaaba’, the Holy place in Mecca to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims year after year, this ‘Rubaath’ was earlier re-located from another place nearby.