SDPI Intensifies Pressure for Mangaluru Haj Bhavan and Direct Flight Resumption
The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has issued a strong public appeal, demanding that the Mangaluru Haj Bhavan project, which has been stalled for over 15 years, must be initiated without further delay. Simultaneously, the party has called for the immediate resumption of direct flights for the Haj pilgrimage from Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), a service that was discontinued during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Decades of Delays and Broken Promises
Anwar Sadath Bajathur, the SDPI district president, addressed reporters on Monday, expressing deep frustration over the prolonged inaction. "Promises to construct the Haj Bhavan have been made repeatedly for 15 long years, yet we see no tangible progress on the ground," he stated emphatically. Bajathur placed the blame squarely on what he described as a "lack of willpower and commitment" among the district's Muslim representatives and community leaders, accusing them of failing to prioritize this critical infrastructure for pilgrims.
The Human Cost for Pilgrims
Highlighting the significant scale of the pilgrimage, Bajathur provided detailed statistics: annually, approximately 16 lakh people worldwide undertake Haj, with 1.7 lakh originating from India. Of these, around 7,500 are from Karnataka, and over 1,300 specifically hail from the Dakshina Kannada district. The current logistical setup forces many elderly and infirm pilgrims to travel to Bengaluru at least three days in advance, a journey that is both physically taxing and financially burdensome. The absence of local facilities and direct flights exacerbates these challenges, making the spiritual journey unnecessarily arduous.
Land Issues and a Proposed Solution
According to Bajathur, the primary obstacle to constructing the Haj Bhavan has been the unavailability of suitable government land in the Mangaluru vicinity. However, he proposed a viable alternative: clearing encroached waqf properties could provide the necessary space for the building. This suggestion points to underutilized community assets that could be repurposed to serve a pressing public need.
Existing Efforts and Continued Stagnation
The SDPI leader acknowledged previous efforts that have, so far, failed to yield results. Congress leader Inayat Ali had generously donated land near Bajpe from his family holdings, which was formally registered under the Haj Committee. Furthermore, the government had allocated a substantial sum of Rs 10 crore for the project. "Despite these foundational steps—land donation and fund release—the project remains stuck in bureaucratic inertia," Bajathur lamented. He stressed that these elements should have catalyzed immediate action, yet the construction has not even begun.
A Dual Demand for Action
In his concluding remarks, Bajathur issued a clear, two-fold demand to the authorities:
- Commence the Haj Bhavan project immediately to provide local accommodation and processing facilities for pilgrims, thereby eliminating the need for the pre-journey to Bengaluru.
- Resume direct Haj flights from Mangaluru International Airport to Saudi Arabia, restoring the pre-pandemic connectivity that greatly eased travel logistics for thousands.
The SDPI's appeal underscores a growing impatience within the community, framing the issue not just as a matter of convenience but as one of social justice and religious facilitation for a significant demographic. The ball is now in the court of the district administration and state government to respond with decisive action.
