Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Nov 14: State Haj Committee president, Ghouse Basha, has demanded resignation from Prof Mumtaz Ali Khan, minister for Haj, Walkf and minority welfare, saying that the minister has been unable to appreciate the well-being of the minority communities.
Speaking at the Haj Camp organized at Khuddus Sahed Idgah Maidan in the city on Friday November 13, he accused Khan of releasing only Rs 75 lac to the Haj Committee for its maintenance, although it had demanded for a grant of Rs 1.5 crore rupees. He claimed that a sum of one crore rupees was spent for the committee’s maintenance last year. At the same time, no amount was released by the ministry towards conducting of the Haj Camp, he alleged.
He further charged Khan of running the ministry by being dependent on his officials, and being more interested in the affairs of Chickballapur district, of which he is the in-charge minister, as if he is the deputy commissioner of that district, and failing to show the same interest in Haj and Wakf affairs.
“An additional Haj Camp was held this year at Mangalore. This is being managed fully out of the contributions from donors. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa made him a minister to achieve development of the minorities, but he has miserably failed,” Basha alleged. Continuing with his diatribe, he said that the minister, who is expected to take interest in building the Haj House, for which the state government has released five crore rupees, is wasting time on issues relating to Wakf properties. He alleged that the minister stopped payment of the monthly allowance being paid to the former by indulging in the politics of vendetta, as the latter had opposed accommodation of the State Wakf Women Development Foundation in the Haj Committee building. He asked the government to locate the Haj House near the Devanahalli international airport, as it is convenient for the pilgrims.
Haj Committee chief executive officer Nayaz Ahmed and other leaders were present at the press conference.