On his first Hajj: Bengaluru electrician to walk all the way to Mecca

SEETHAGONDI (ADILABAD): Mohd Rahmathullah Khan of Bengaluru, an electrician by profession and out on his first Hajj, is attempting the pilgrimage with a difference – he is walking all the way to Mecca, an estimated distance of 7,000km. Khan, 56, commenced his journey on February 5. He reached Adilabad town on Tuesday evening.

Speaking to this newspaper, Khan said he has applied for permission from the ministry for external affairs for his padayatra across national borders for Hajj; he also wrote letters to Prime Minister and Union minister Sushma Swaraj requesting consideration of his case.

He applied for permission four months ago, reminding the external affairs ministry again on January 31. He is waiting for permission. Khan said that he is meanwhile walking 50-60 km from 6 am to 6.30 pm daily.

He hopes to reach Mecca by August-end. Members of various Muslim organisations and leaders of Congress and MIM welcomed Khan at Mavala grampanchayat on the outskirts of Adilabad and gave him a send-off after a brief halt for lunch.

Khan said that he would reach Delhi via Nagpur and his final destination in Saudi Arabia covering nearly 7,000 km as part of his pilgrimage on foot.