Hindutva leader wants Uttar Pradesh Haj House converted to cowshed

Ghaziabad: A fresh controversy has erupted around the Ala Hazrat Haj House in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad after a local Hindutva leader demanded that the facility be converted into a gaushala, or cowshed, instead of being repurposed for other uses, according to Siasat.

A video circulating on social media shows National Hindu Veer Sena leader Satyam Pandit arguing that the Haj House in Hindan Vihar is not being utilised appropriately. He called on government authorities to take immediate steps to establish a gaushala at the site and concluded his appeal with religious slogans.

The demand comes amid an ongoing debate over the future of the seven-storey Haj House, which has remained locked and largely unused for the past seven years. Built as a transit facility for Haj pilgrims from western Uttar Pradesh, the complex was inaugurated in 2016 by then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Recently, the state's Minority Department submitted a proposal seeking to convert the building into a guest house, citing its deteriorating condition and prolonged lack of use. The proposal, however, drew criticism from sections of the Muslim community, who argued that a facility created to serve the religious and community needs of Haj pilgrims should not be transformed into a revenue-generating establishment.

The Haj House was designed to accommodate up to 1,886 pilgrims and previously functioned as a centre for medical examinations, vaccinations and travel preparations ahead of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The latest demand for its conversion into a gaushala has added another layer to the dispute surrounding the future of the facility.