Graft laden Haj

In 2001, Sharad Yadav then civil aviation minister, was livid when he received reports of malpractices in Haj pilgrims operations. "How can you (Muslims) think of indulging in corruption on an issue as sacred as the Haj,'' he asked bluntly. Then it was considered a slap on the face of those responsible for Haj operations, forcing Maulana Obaidullah Khan Azmi, then member of the Central Haj Committee (CHC), to demand a CBI inquiry into allegations of irregularities and alleged scams in Haj operations. Nothing really moved until 2006 when a team of investigative reporters from the Cobrapost portal conducted a sting operation exposing how seats meant for pilgrims were sold by officials of state Haj committees in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

Now consider these:
*** There are a slew of avoidable expenses in organising the trip. In 2011, Rs 30 lakhs were spent on draw of lots for pilgrims in Delhi. This year that amount has shrunk to Rs eight lakhs.

*** The CHC has made a profit of Rs 112 crores in 2011 with little or no facilities provided to pilgrims.

“Allegations and stories of scams are not new to Indian Haj operations and we should consider them seriously because the treatment that an Indian Haji gets during the pilgrimage is pathetic,” says Samiullah who performed Haj in 2008.

Resident Editor of Urdu daily Sahafat, Hasan Shuja who was part of Haj goodwill delegation in 2011 concurs, “Arrangements for Indian pilgrims are always very bad and because of poor management, we (Indian Hajis) do not receive the respect that pilgrims from Indonesia, Pakistan and Malaysia enjoy.  Our consulate is responsible. We need to have a joint secretary-level official in Saudi Arabia who can take up the case of Indian pilgrims.''

Poor accommodation has been a bane. Buildings selected for their stay are not just ill equipped with poor infrastructure, but also far away from the holy place of Khane Kaba. Hotels near the place of worship are in great demand and rentals are steep.

Alleges Matloob Karim, former secretary of the Delhi State Haj Committee, "Accommodation is the hub of corruption. There is a building selection committee consisting of CHC members which visits Saudi Arabia in the non-Haj season to select buildings. There are middlemen who guide them on what buildings to select and deals are cut. Everyone, including the consulate, are involved. Compromises are made and the poor Indian Haji has to bear the brunt.”

The experiences are typical of how most government departments work. Recalls Samiullah, "I and my wife paid for the first category but were given third category accommodation which was at Azizia, located at the border of Mecca and far away from the holy place. We were assured that the difference would be paid, but till date it remains an assurance.  There would be thousands of such cases.”

Is the CHC exploiting religious sentiments? Says Habib Akhtar of Hindi daily Aaj Samaj, a Haji of 2006 vintage, "Everyone exploits religious sentiments. A majority of Indian Haj pilgrims are older in comparison to others and come from poor financial backgrounds, most travelling by air for the first time. They have saved money for Haj and do not press for facilities which they are entitled to. It is this sentiment that our officials exploit.'' Pilgrims say the food is sub-standard. While other airline passengers are provided at least Three Star food, Air India outsources this to locals who do not enforce quality control.

The vice chairman of CHC Hasan Ahmed and its CEO Shakir Husain, naturally, rubbish these reports. Husain takes pain to explain money spent under different heads but fails to give a satisfactory reply about the Rs 112 crore profit last year. One insider corroborates the CHC story. “The amount deposited by Haj pilgrims was put in the banks for three months and the interest earned on that amount was fixed deposited. This way, it went up to Rs 112 crore and has nothing to do with the amount charged from pilgrims last year. Neither have the pilgrims been over charged.''

If that was not enough, pilgrims have to carry the additional bag of appeasement of Haj subsidy, which was Rs 685 crores last year (see graph). In a recent decision, the Supreme Court has asked the government to end Haj subsidy in the next ten years and bring down the number of delegates in the Haj goodwill delegation to two from 32.

Says Rajya Sabha member Mohammed Adeeb, “Why ten years? Subsidy should be scrapped immediately. According to Islamic Shariat (law), one has to perform Haj with his own money and it is mandatory only for those who can afford it.'' In 1973, when Haj pilgrims shifted from sea to air travel, this concession was given but never demanded.

There are those who feel the subsidy should continue. Haroon Mozewalla, General Secretary of Kher-e-Ummat  trust, Mumbai says, “Muslims from all over the world gather at Mecca during Haj season and when the Indian Haj pilgrim tells others about the discount he gets, it gives a great name to the country."

Irate Hajis suggest radical moves. “Replace the present CHC with a Haj Commission which will have powers and would be accountable. At present the CHC collects money and sends off pilgrims from India and has no role or power in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, the real show is run by the Indian Consulate but the blame of poor arrangements and corruption are levelled against CHC,'' says Salamatullah, former chairman CHC. In the world of religious deal making, even this may not help.

“Everything is transparent”

There are reports that the Haj committee has made a profit of Rs 112 crores last year?
The reports of making profit are baseless. The details of the 746 Saudi riyals charged from Haj pilgrim is this: out of this 746 Riyals, 600 Riyals are given to the in charge of South Asian pilgrims (South Asian Moasasa), 25 Riyals for pillow and quilt, 15 Riyals insurance charges, 11 Riyals for supply of Zam Zam water, 13 Riyals for checking luggage at the Madina, 40 Riyals for additional accommodation as per Saudi law, 20 Riyals for Indian and Saudi government and 16 Riyals under the miscellaneous head. So everything is transparent.

There are allegations that costly accommodation was taken at Azizia?

Allegations regarding accommodation at Azizia are also baseless because the rates are finalised by the Jeddah consulate, the ministry of external affairs and the Haj Committee and we hire these buildings for a full season. Similarly in the case of foreign exchange, we invite tenders.

What all you have done to make the Haj operations more transparent?

Everything is available on the net. The draw of lots is totally computerised and we have even started relaying information through SMS and because of these steps, the crowd at Haj House is getting thinner and thinner.