Dehradun, May 08:
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna inaugurated the online lottery for the selection of Haj Pilgrims in a program organized by Haj Committee in a Wedding Point at Subhash Road here today. The Chief Minister disclosed the names of the selected 835 Haj pilgrims. He also announced to establish Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Education Foundation to take the minorities ahead in the field of education.
Chief Minister Bahuguna extended his best wishes to the selected Haj pilgrims and sympathizing with the people who were not selected said that the state government was persuading the Central Government to increase the quota of Haj pilgrims for the state. Mr. Bahuguna said that it was the endeavour of the state government to look after the welfare of the minority.
Mr. Bahuguna said that Uttarakhand was a unique state that has religious pilgrimages like Char Dham, Piran Kaliyar and Hemkund Sahib. Stating that the State Government was committed towards the welfare of the Minority Community, the Chief Minister said that separate Minority Welfare Ministry has been constituted in the state. "The State Government is trying to pursue the Central Government to facilitate direct flight service from Uttarakhand to Saudi Arab for Haj pilgrims of the state," he said.
Secretary to chief Minister MH Khan said that the Chief Minister was very sensitive towards minorities. He said that owing to the efforts made by him (CM) various welfare programs for the minorities, development of basic infrastructures, free cycle scheme for students. Student motivational scheme, marriage schemes for girls, training and guidance schemes and many more were in the pipeline. Also present on the occasion were Gangotri MLA Vijay Pal Singh Sajwan, MLA Rajpur Rajkumar, Director Minority Vikramajit Tiwari, Parliamentary Secretary Furkan Ahmed, Shehar Kazi Mufti Shalim Ahmed and Altaf Hussain.
