Electrician to walk till Mecca

 Mohd Rahmathullah Khan is on his way to  Mecca

Mohd Rahmathullah Khan, of Bengaluru , an electrician by profession and out on his first Hajj, is attempting the pilgrimage with a difference- he is walking all the way to Mecca, an estimated distance of 7,000 km.

Khan,56, commenced his journey on February 5. He reached Adilabad town on Tuesday evening.   

Speaking to this newspaper, Khan said he has applied for permission from Ministry for External Affairs for his padayatra across the national borders for Hajj: he also wrote letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Sushma Swaraj requesting consideration of his case.

He applied for permission four months ago, and reminding external affairs ministry again on January 3. He is waiting for permission. Khan said that he is meanwhile walking 50-60 km from 6 am to 6.30 pm daily. He hopes to reach Mecca by August end.

Members of various Muslim organizations including members of Adilabad Haj Society and leaders of Congress and MIM welcomed Rahmathulla at Mavala grampanchayat on the outskirts of the Adilabad and gave him send off after a brief halt for lunch.

Rahmathullah said that he would reach Delhi via Nagpur and his final destination in Saudi Arabia covering nearly 7,000 km as part of his pilgrimage on foot.