HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said that the State government has sanctioned a new medical college for minorities at Kadapa in addition to the existing one for women of the community here.

Formally flagging off buses headed to the airport with Haj pilgrims here on Friday, Mr. Rosaiah spoke about the efforts of the government for educational and economic development of the Muslims. He visited Haj House at Nampally to see off the largest batch of 1,300 pilgrims who left by four flights on Friday.

The Chief Minister made the opening and closing remarks at the programme in Urdu. Switching to English in between, he wished them a happy journey and comfortable stay in Saudi Arabia.

Minorities Welfare Minister Syed Mohammed Ahmedullah said he performed ‘umrah' in Saudi Arabia only two days ago when he saw for himself the arrangements made there for 7,500 Hajis from the State. He appealed to the Chief Minister to release Rs. 50 lakh more for the State Haj committee in addition to the Rs. 70 lakh already sanctioned.

Former Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir recalled the words of Union Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed that the latter's party, Trinamool Congress, was keen to replicate in West Bengal the schemes initiated by the State government for minorities if it was voted to power.

The State Wakf Board chairman Maulana Ghulam Afzal Biyabani said the prayers of first time Hajis were generally answered.