Diversion of funds approved for building Haj In Pune

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) general body (GB) on Monday approved a resolution to provide Rs2 crore for expansion of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial as the extended part could be used as a 'Haj House' for convenience of pilgrims in South Maharashtra who want to go for the holy pilgrimage.

There was a proposal to divert funds meant for development work like capping to be undertaken at Uruli garbage depot in the budget of last financial year.

The standing committee of the civic body on February 1 had passed a proposal to develop 'Haj House' in the city in the name of expansion of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial in Koregaon Park.

Chairman of standing committee Arvind Shinde had said that the provision is made for expansion of the memorial in the adjoining open space. The new construction would be used as a dormitory where provision would be made for 500 pilgrims to stay. The original idea for expansion of the memorial is to develop 'Haj House' where five-day guidance would be provided to pilgrims.
Shinde had mentioned the proposal in his speech of civic budget for 2011 -12 that a provision of Rs2 crore each has been made for Haj House and Warkari Bhavan in the city.
On Monday, when the resolution was considered in the GB, Shiv Sena group leader Sham Deshpande opposed it. He said that he was not opposed to the Haj House but Muslim brothers should not be deceived by this kind of proposal.
The proposal was passed with majority vote of 42 in favour and 23 against as Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supported the proposal and Shiv Sena as well as Bharatiya Janata Party opposed it.