Coimbatore District Jama-ath's Demands
The general secretary of the Coimbatore District Jama-ath, M.I. Mohammed Ali, has placed a number of demands before the Chief Minister regarding Haj pilgrimage including a plea for extension of time in respect of the last date for submission of application forms by 15 days instead of May 31. In a memorandum, Mr.Mohammed Ali said that the extension would help those who had gone on summer vocation apply. Already, 10,000 applications had been received at the office besides 3,000 through Internet.Mr.Mohammed Ali said that all those who paid their advance deposit along with the application should get a chance to go on Haj pilgrimage. Last year with the ceiling of 3,500, many applicants were disappointed. To avoid a similar situation, Mr.Ali pleaded for increasing the quota. Mr.Ali also suggested that the list of people who had gone on the pilgirimage in the last five years should be computerised and based on that list, new applicants should be given priority.
He also pointed out that at present all Haj pilgrims from Tamil Nadu were being sent from the Chennai airport. From this year the pilgrims should be sent from other International airports such as Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli. Mr.Ali pleaded for opening of branch offices for Haj pilgrimage at Coimbatore and Tiruchi. He wanted the Haj pilgrimage application forms in Tamil too. At present, they were printed in English and Urdu.
