JEDDAH, Dec 1(Arab News): Without mincing his words, Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru, leader of the Indian Haj goodwill delegation, expressed his dissatisfaction over the arrangements for Indian pilgrims this year.

Speaking at a function organized under the aegis of the India Forum to felicitate the delegation, Kakru, who is also the chief justice of Andhra Pradesh state, said, “I received many complaints about the accommodation for Indian pilgrims in Makkah. I visited some of the buildings myself and found them not worthy to house pilgrims. In some buildings, I noticed four to five people being accommodated in small rooms, apparently against prescribed norms,” he said. “When I checked about it with the consulate official there, his reply was absurd and unconvincing.”

Interestingly, before Kakru's speech, both Indian Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad and Consul General Sayeed Ahmad Baba had declared the Indian Haj operation “hassle-free, smooth and successful.”

Ahmad claimed this year's Haj management to be one of the best ever and assured the gathering that there was no room for corruption at any level. He recalled the changing dynamics of the Haj operation. “In 1987, we made arrangements for only 25,000 pilgrims. But the number kept on increasing and this year we served 175,000 pilgrims, out of whom 125,000 came through the Central Haj Committee,” he said.

Immediately after Ahmad's speech, Kakru took the podium and started pointing out one by one the discrepancies in the entire Haj operation, especially in accommodation and transportation.

Much to the chagrin of the ambassador and the consul general, Kakru even hinted at corruption in renting out buildings for pilgrims. “I came to know that some of the buildings which were earlier rejected were rented later by compromising on safety and other norms. This was done at the behest of some junior officials,” he said.

Kakru did not name any official. “It's not relevant to talk about an irrelevant officer,” he said, leaving the audience guessing about the erring officials.

In his long speech, Kakru thanked the Indian ambassador and the consul general for making very good arrangements for the delegation. He also lauded some aspects of the Haj operation. But on the whole he sounded unimpressed and suggested the officials take serious note of the problems faced by ordinary pilgrims.

“I learned about several problems which Indian pilgrims faced during Haj this year. Many issues were brought to my knowledge, even by members of the goodwill delegation. But I am speaking about only those problems for which I found some evidence.”

He also raised the issue of hundreds of stranded Indian pilgrims. With Haj over many pilgrims are stranded in Madinah due to canceled flights. “We are trying to arrange Air India flights to clear this backlog as soon as possible,” Baba said in response.

Most of the delegates with whom Arab News talked to echoed the sentiments expressed by Kakru.

Mairajuddin Ahmad, a former minister from Uttar Pradesh, said, “Justice Kakru summarized the sentiments of all the members of the goodwill delegation.”

The audience applauded Kakru for his frank remarks. But still there were many who were wondering whether it was proper for a serving justice to become the head of a Haj goodwill delegation and perform Haj at the government’s expense. This is the second year running that Kakru had come on Haj with the goodwill delegation.

The government of India bears all the cost of the delegation's stay in the Kingdom and its members are paid daily expenses in dollars.

“Is it proper for a serving judge to take this favor from the government?” asked one guest.