Mangaluru: A programme was held to see off the first batch of Haj pilgrims to Madina  where Minister for Haj and Urban Development R. Roshan Baig said on Wednesday that the foundation stone for constructing a Haj Bhavan near Mangaluru International Airport will be laid shortly at Kanjavari. 

He asked the Ministers from Dakshina Kannada to see the Haj Bhavan in Bengaluru first before finalising the plan of the Haj Bhavan in Mangaluru.

The Bengaluru structure will be inaugurated on August 27.

The Minister said that the Haj Bhavan should not remain idle during non-Haj season. It should be used for organising seminars, workshops and cultural programmes. The Haj Bhavan will also house families and businessmen coming from the foreign countries. “It should be used as multi-purpose cultural centre during the non-Haj season,” he said.

He further said, “I urge every pilgrim to offer Dua (prayer) in Madeena for the peace in our state and the country. All of us must keep in mind that none of the religions teach violence. The terrorists of ISIS and others who are spreading violence in the name of Islam do not belong to Islam. We belong to the religion which advocates peace. We must pray that the menace of terrorism to be abolished from the world.”

Minister U T Khader, Forest minister Ramanath Rai also put forth their views on the occasion. 

MLA of Mangaluru North constituency Moideen Bava, MLA of Moodbidri constituency Abhayachandra Jain, Mayor of MCC Harinath, MLA JR Lobo,  MUDA chairman Ibrahim Kodijal, Haj management committee chief Y Mohammed Kunhi, District Wakf Advisory Committee president S M Rasheed Haji and others were present on the occasion.