Ahlul Bayt News Agency - LUCKNOW, India: Shia Cleric and Friday prayer leader of Lucknow, Maulana Kalbe Jawad blamed presence of a Saudi prince for stampede that killed over 1500 pilgrims during Hajj in Mina, near Mecca.
He also supported demand of Iran that Saudi Arabia hand over control of the annual pilgrimage to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the world's largest body of Muslim nations.
Addressing a gathering of Shia after Bakrid (al-Adha) prayer, Mr. Jawad, who is also general secretary of Majlis-e-Ulama-e-Hind, an all India body of clerics, said the prince came in his car along with the convoy to throw pebble for the 'stoning of devil' ritual.
Referring to a video gone viral on social media, he said seven out of 13 roads were closed due to presence of the prince and his convoy, forcing pilgrims from different directions to converge at a point, leading to panic and stampede.
Demanding action against those responsible for the tragedy, Jawad said the video shows the prince was throwing pebble from inside the car. Saudi Arabia has rejected Iran's allegation on the prince.
Jawad reiterated that agitation against corruption in Shia Central Wakf Board, UP will continue. He also alleged that the recent fire at Sunni Waqf Board office was a conspiracy to destroy evidences of corruption. "Like Sunni Waqf Board, corrupt elements in the government would have also destroyed evidences of corruption in Shia Wakf Board but the pressure mounted by Shia community to order CBI probe prevented them from doing so," he claimed.
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