NEW DELHI: Syed Ghulam Bhik Nairang, M.I.A. (Central), Chairman Provisional Committee, Majlis-e-Khadiman-e-Haramain, has issued the following statement to the Press: “Indian pilgrims to the Hedjat, who before or after the last Haj visited Medina, which is a marvellous masterpiece of architecture and decorative art is in a state of disrepair and decay and that the Saudi authorities show no sign of being alive to their duty as custodians and trustees on behalf of the entire Muslim World of this unique monument.

“On the contrary they have tampered with the beautiful inscriptions inside the mosque by obliterating some of the names of the Holy Prophet [PBUH] and some other writings. Indian pilgrims, therefore, have decided to organise an All-India Society under the name of Majlis-e-Khadiman-e-Haramain, with the object of inducing the Saudi Arabian Government to stop tampering with the Holy Mosque, undertake necessary repairs and restore the writings which have been effaced...”

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2020