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Restore Karipur Haj embarkation: Thodiyoor Muhammed Kunhi Moulavi,

Mr Raghavan also said that he would meet Union minister for minority welfare Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

KOZHIKODE: Political leaders, people’s representatives, leaders of trade and travel organisations and members of Kerala Haj Committee have protested the way the Union government “was conniving with various elements that try to grab away the Haj services entirely from Calicut International Airport.” Addressing a seminar organised by Malabar Development Forum here on Saturday, Thodiyoor Muhammed Kunhi Moulavi, chairman of the Hajj Committee, said the reasons they cited to shift the embarkation point were unfounded. Even after rectifying most of the issues, they are repeating the same reasons. Without any trouble, the airport functioned as embarkation point from 2002 to 2014.

“It was only in 2015 the Airport Authority of India shifted it to Cochin citing poor condition of the runway,” he said. “Even after strengthening the runway, it continues.” More than 400 pilgrims had performed Hajj from here without hassles, he said. “Now lobbies supporting Kannur and Kochi airports are trying to grab it away," he said.

“It is up to the Centre to take a sensible decision as a majority of pilgrims are from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts.” M.K. Raghavan MP assured them to take all steps to bring it back. "Many airline companies including Emirates and Etihad are ready to conduct Hajj services from Karipur," he said. "As majority pilgrims are aged, the Union government should take steps to provide them comfortable boarding from the nearest airport." Mr Raghavan also said that he would meet Union minister for minority welfare Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday to discuss the issue. Malabar Development Forum chairman K.M. Basheer presided over.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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