Telangana CM Revanth Reddy thanks Haj pilgrims, promises support for development
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday (May 16) expressed gratitude to Haj pilgrims leaving from the State, 'for going to the House of God to pray for the country', even as he announced a 'rubaat' in Mamidipally, from where they would leave for the pilgrimage in the future.
Mr. Reddy was speaking at the Haj House where he flagged off a batch of pilgrims bound for Saudi Arabia. He assured that budgetary constraints were not an issue for the 'rubaat'. The facility would be constructed around 5 km from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, he said.
He reiterated that 6,000 pilgrims from Telangana were undertaking the pilgrimage this year. 'Allah has chosen you for this sacred journey,' he said, noting that pilgrims from 17 States were travelling from Hyderabad.
Reaffirming his government's commitment to inclusive development, Mr. Reddy emphasised plans for the comprehensive development of the Old City, which he referred to as the 'Original City.' He underscored the Telangana government's commitment to infrastructure improvement in that area for projects such as metro rail, flyovers, and road.
'This government was made with your support. Whatever is required for you, we will not back down,' he said. Mr Reddy also encouraged Muslims and other minority communities to apply for government housing and financial assistance schemes, acknowledging the socio-economic challenges many Muslims continue to face.
Addressing the vacant, cold shell Waqf Garden View Mall, constructed over 13 years ago, Mr. Reddy directed officials to prepare estimates for strengthening the structure. He also asked them to study the feasibility of putting the property to good use.
Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi, who also addressed the gathering, urged pilgrims to be kind to their parents, especially mothers. Highlighting the spiritual and emotional aspects of haj.
He also commented on the tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. 'It seems the neighbouring country will not straighten its tail. Please pray that it does. If not, we will have to do something about them,' he said.
Telangana Haj Committee Chairman Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani noted that all logistical and hospitality arrangements for pilgrims were made well in advance. He thanked the CM for responding to representations made by the committee.
Among the improvements, he said, was a reduction in the pilgrim-to-inspector ratio from 300:1 to 150:1. He added that, unlike in the past, Haj inspectors, who were previously known as khadim-ul-hujjaj, would remain with their respective groups for the entire duration of the pilgrimage.
Advisor to the Telangana Government for Minorities Welfare Mohammed Ali Shabbir, spoke about the State's caste survey, the issue of Muslim reservations, and the need for increased financial allocations for minority development.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kabrastan crisis could snowball into political plank for 2027 polls
Margao: The prolonged failure to establish a kabrastan for South Goa's Muslim community threatens to transform from an administrative hiccup into a potential electoral landmine that could reshape the 2027 assembly elections. Community leader Abdul Matin Carol's recent letter to the assembly speaker reflects mounting frustration over 'decades of unfulfilled promises'. The strongly worded missive demands immediate action on the long-pending burial ground issue, seeking a review of 'all pending assurances' and urging authorities to expedite the establishment of burial facilities statewide. The community recently launched a drive to secure proper burial grounds by directly appealing to village panchayats across the state. Community leaders cited constitutional obligations and govt directives that mandate panchayats to provide suitable burial grounds for all religious communities. The crisis deepened after the high court's Oct 2022 directive to develop the kabrastan at Sonsoddo 'within six months' remained unimplemented. More than two years later, technical assessments revealed only 2,500 sqm of the originally acquired 30,000 sqm land are usable due to terrain limitations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo The community's anger has found political expression. 'In the last Lok Sabha elections, Muslim voters contributed to BJP losing the South Goa seat, sending a clear electoral message. Govt may ignore the demand at its own peril,' a political observer said. Community leaders have explicitly stated the kabrastan issue will be a 'deciding factor' in the 2027 polls. 'This issue is of great public importance and deserves urgent attention in the interest of justice, equity, and good governance,' Carol said, adding that delays have caused 'continued inconvenience and hardship' while raising concerns about the 'efficacy of assurances made in the assembly'. 'With Goa's wafer-thin margins that decide victories, consolidated opposition from any significant community can tip scales dramatically. Kabrastan is an emotive issue and it could override traditional voting patterns,' another political observer said. 'Opposition parties are likely to make political capital of this administrative failure, painting it as govt's insensitivity toward minorities.' Carol's request for a personal hearing by the speaker on the matter is seen by observers as the community's final attempt at resolution through established channels.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Trump's new travel ban set to take effect amid escalating tension over immigration enforcement
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's new ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries is set to take effect Monday amid escalating tension over the president's unprecedented campaign of immigration enforcement. The new proclamation, which Trump signed on Wednesday, applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also imposes heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don't hold a valid visa. The new ban does not revoke visas previously issued to people from countries on the list, according to guidance issued Friday to all U.S. diplomatic missions. However, unless an applicant meets narrow criteria for an exemption to the ban, his or her application will be rejected starting Monday. Haitian-American Elvanise Louis-Juste, who was at the airport Sunday in Newark, New Jersey, awaiting a flight to her home state of Florida, said many Haitians wanting to come to the U.S. are simply seeking to escape violence and unrest in their country. 'I have family in Haiti, so it's pretty upsetting to see and hear,' Louis-Juste, 23, said of the travel ban. 'I don't think it's a good thing. I think it's very upsetting.' Many immigration experts say the new ban is designed to beat any court challenge by focusing on the visa application process and appears more carefully crafted than a hastily written executive order during Trump's first term that denied entry to citizens of mainly Muslim countries. In a video posted Wednesday on social media, Trump said nationals of countries included in the ban pose 'terrorism-related' and 'public-safety' risks, as well as risks of overstaying their visas. He also said some of these countries had 'deficient' screening and vetting or have historically refused to take back their citizens. His findings rely extensively on an annual Homeland Security report about tourists, businesspeople and students who overstay U.S. visas and arrive by air or sea, singling out countries with high percentages of nationals who remain after their visas expired. Trump also tied the new ban to a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, saying it underscored the dangers posed by some visitors who overstay visas. The man charged in the attack is from Egypt, a country that is not on Trump's restricted list. U.S. officials say he overstayed a tourist visa. The ban was quickly denounced by groups that provide aid and resettlement help to refugees. 'This policy is not about national security — it is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States,' said Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America, a nonprofit international relief organization. Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro's government condemned the travel ban, characterizing it in a statement as a 'stigmatization and criminalization campaign' against Venezuelans.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Bakrid prayer at Badi Eidgah passes off peacefully amid large gathering, security
Kanpur: Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the main Eidgah in the city passed off peacefully on Saturday. The prayer began at 7.30 am at the Badi Eidgah in Benajhabar. According to the Eidgah committee's caretaker, over one lakh Muslims gathered to perform the Eid-ul-Adha prayer together inside the Eidgah. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Proper arrangements for seating, water, and fans were made at the Badi Eidgah. The police also implemented excellent security measures, and surveillance was conducted using drones. After the prayer, people embraced each other and exchanged greetings. At the administrative camp outside the Eidgah, district magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh, ADM Rajesh Kumar, joint police commissioner, DCP Central Shravan Kumar Singh, and DCP Traffic Ravindra Kumar extended Eid-ul-Adha greetings to the public. Following the prayer, people prayed for the country's well-being, peace, and prosperity in the city and the nation. After the prayer, people returned to their homes, and began the process of sacrificing animals, which will continue until Monday. The police commissioner Akhil Kumar said that special monitoring was conducted at all points for security arrangements. "The Eid-ul-Adha prayer at the Badi Eidgah and other mosques in the city passed off peacefully, he said.
