By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: The Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, Gaikhangam send off the second batch of Haj pilgrims, numbering 227, for Guwahati from the Tulihal Airport at Imphal on September 21, 2013.
As the Chief Minister of the State, O. Ibobi Singh is at present on an official visit to China the Deputy Chief Minister met the pilgrims and wished them a safe journey to Mecca. He also requested the pilgrims to pray to the Almighty for peace and prosperity of the state.
CM O. Ibobi Singh seeing off haj pilgrims in 2012 [Photo by E.Pao]
The see-off function, held at the Tulihal Airport at Imphal was also attended by the Member of Parliament of the State Dr. Thokchom Meina Singh, Agriculture Minister Md. Abdul Nasir, Chairman of Manipur State Haj Committee and Parliamentary Secretary (MOBC) Md. Amin Shah, Chairman of Wakf Board, Manipur and MLA Md. Fazur Rahim, and Muslim leaders of the State.
The first batch of 17 Haj pilgrims had left for Guwahati on September 20. The last team of 102 pilgrims left for Guwahati on September 22. In all, 346 pilgrims will be performing Haj from the State. The Haj pilgrims will board the flights for Saudi Arabia from Guwahati International Airport on September 23 and 24.
Before leaving for China, Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh had inaugurated the four-day (September 24-27, 2013) orientation/training programme for Haj pilgrims at Madrasa Alia (Markaz-e-Tabligh), Lilong in Thubal district on August 24. The orientation programme was organized by Manipur State Haj Committee to give important instructions to the pilgrims regarding the sacred journey. The Chief Minister had urged the pilgrims to pray for peace and harmony of Manipur at the holy city.