Srinagar, June 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was Thursday elected chairman of the State Hajj Committee.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir State Hajj Committee (JKSHC). The meeting was chaired by the Secretary Hajj and Auqaf Ajaz Iqbal.
Jehangir Hussain Mir, MLC proposed the name of Omar for the chairmanship while former Minister Haji Nisar Ali seconded the proposal.
Omar is the first Chief Minister to be elected as the chairman of the State Hajj Committee, an official spokesman said. The members of the State Hajj Committee are chairperson J&K Waqaf Board, Parliament Member Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, legislators Mir Saifullah and Jehangir Hussain Mir, Chairman, State Waqaf Council, Aijaz Ahmad Khan, retired Executive Officer, Abdul Rashid Mir, Advocate Sher Ali Bodha of Islamabad, Prof Mohammad Ayoub of Doda, Sidiq Qadiri of Srinagar, Moulana Dil Muhammad Naqashbandi Khatib Saddar Ahal-e-Sunnat-Wal-Jamat of Rajouri, Moulana Ghulam Rasool Hami of Ganderbal, Haji Nisar former MLA of Kargil while Executive Officer State Hajj Committee is ex-Officio member.
Later, Omar chaired the first meeting of the State Hajj Committee and took stock of its functioning and measures afoot to make arrangements for the Hajj 2010.
Various matters pertaining to the Hajj arrangements and facilities to the pilgrims were discussed in detail in the meeting.
The Chief Minister approved release of Rs 2 crore for early completion of Hajj House at Bemina so that it is fully utilized for providing adequate facilities to the Hujaj.
Omar also asked the Hajj Committee to provide cell phones to the Khudam-ul-Hujaj so that they are available to Hajis and communicate with them and the concerned Hajj Officers. He also asked for finding out a mechanism of selecting Khudam-ul-Hujaj from all the districts to help ensure their proper service to the Hajis during Hajj days.
Omar also directed for organizing training camps for Hajis well before the holy month of Ramadhan in all districts.

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