Hyderabad: The Telangana state government has appealed to the Centre to increase Haj quota in view of the increase in the number of pilgrims from the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali wrote a letter to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, requesting her to allow more Haj pilgrims from the state to perform Haj this year. He drew her attention to reports that some states were not availing their entire Haj quota due to lack of demand and said that the unused quota may be allocated to Telangana state.

“Hajis from Iran are also reportedly not utilising the quota allotted to them to visit the holy place of Mecca and Madina only this year. It is also reported that, 20,000 additional quota is given to our country,” Mr Ali said.

“If a major share of that quota is allocated to Telangana, more pilgrims can be sent to the state,” the Deputy CM wrote.