MALAPPURAM: Putting an end to the speculation and hopes of 85 per cent of the Haj pilgrims from the state, the union minister in charge of Haj affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has made it clear that this year’s embarkation would be from Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery despite demand to reinstate the embarkation point to Calicut International Airport. “The minister has ruled out any possibility of shifting the embarkation point to Calicut International Airport at Karipur this year pointing out that the flight schedule has already been finalised by the government,” said Thodiyoor Muhammed Kunhi Moulavi, chairman of the state Haj Committee.
The minister has promised to consider the demand next year. The state Haj panel raised the demand during a consultation meeting convened as part of the renewal of the Haj policy in Mumbai on Sunday. The Haj panel and state government had approached the centre on several occasions demanding the restoration of the Haj embarkation point to Karipur where the state Haj Committee is headquartered. Haj flights have been scheduled from August 13 to 21, three services per day. The state Haj panel would soon start initial works of the annual Haj camp at Nedumbassery, he said.
The state Haj panel has submitted its set of recommendations for the new Haj policy which includes the need to distribute Haj seats based on the number of total applications. According to current system, the seats are being distributed proportionately to the Muslim population in the states. The new Haj policy will come into effect from next year. The state Haj Committee had received 95,236 applications for this year’s pilgrimage against the allotted quota of 11,197 seats.
