New Delhi, Feb. 29: This year about 1,75000 pilgrims from India will leave to perform Haj. For the last few years, Haj operations have been conducted under Ministry of Minority Affairs. Smriti Irani is looking after this ministry. Till August 2016, Haj operations were conducted under Ministry of External Affairs.
Many people associated with Haj operations have memories of the days of Shushma Swaraj’s handling of Haj affairs. They remember it with great respect because she was neither connected to Islam nor was from any secular party. But her role was instrumental, and that is why they have good memories of that time.
She belonged to the party, whose leaders or fringe elements associated therewith are attacking Muslims in public domain, raising religious slogans and sometimes even asking Muslims to chant them while attacking them brutally.
Sushma Swaraj, who while being the External Affairs Minister, was also the Haj Minister and she had respect for Haj.
If we draw a comparison between the handling of Haj Affairs of Smriti Irani and Sushma Swaraj, their roles appear quite different. Swaraj’s respect for Haj and pilgrims, her interest in solving the problems of Haj journey, gave her the identity of a secular leader notwithstanding her association with the BJP. She never used hate slurs against Muslims or minorities and she never believed in hate politics. She enjoyed good rapport with other parties in and out of parliament.
The Present Minority Minister Smriti Irani, who is also in-charge of Haj Affairs, recently signed an agreement with the Saudi government regarding India’s Haj quota. She also visited Madinah, after which she was accused that despite being very close to a sacred place like Masjid Nabawi, she didn’t cover the head. She is also allegedly not serious about conservation of Waqf properties and doesn’t like coaching system for minorities operated in Haj Bhawan.
The Minority Minister is not interested in Hajj operation either. This is the reason why Haj Committee of India has not been formed for the last several years, due to which Haj operation is going in an unplanned manner, and thousands of Haj pilgrims are facing problems every year. The Supreme Court earlier asked the Government regarding the formation of the committee.
