INDIAN HAJ QUOTA STAYS UNCHANGED

Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar and India’s Minister of State of External Affairs V.K. Singh pose for a photo together with officials from both countries after signing the annual Haj agreement in Jeddah on Tuesday. (Photo: Saudi Gazette)

Jeddah, 14 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/4 February 2015 (MINA) – India and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday signed an agreement for the 2015 Haj season under which the quota for Indian Hajis will remain the same as the previous year.

Owing to the ongoing massive expansion works of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Haj quota was curtailed for the last two seasons, Saudi Gazette quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Tuesday’s agreement was signed following a meeting between Saudi Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar and India’s Minister of State of External Affairs V.K. Singh here.

A total of 1,36,020 Indians will perform Haj this year, of which 100,020 pilgrims would come through Haj Committee of India and the remaining 36,000 would come through private tour operators.

Hajjar and Singh discussed issues related to the performance of Haj by Indian pilgrims, including their transportation, accommodation and awareness campaign.

Hajjar briefed the Indian minister on the great efforts and elaborate arrangements being made by the Saudi government to make available the best ever services and facilities for the pilgrims to perform their rituals in ease and comfort. He specially noted the ongoing largest ever expansion in the history of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, in addition to the development projects implemented at the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

The need to make cooling system effective in Mina, better bus facilities for pilgrims to move between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, catering services to pilgrims and standardization of baggage also figured in the talks, according to B.S. Mubarak, consul general of India.

On his part, Singh appreciated the Saudi authorities for extending the best services to pilgrims. He conveyed deep condolences on the death of King Abdullah and expressed best wishes for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. Singh fondly recalled the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King Salman while the latter was crown prince during the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia last November.

The Indian delegation also included Ambassador of India Hamid Ali Rao, Chairman Haj Committee of India Qaisar Shamim, Joint Secretary (Haj), Ministry of External Affairs, Ajit Gupte, Consul General Mubarak, CEO Haj Committee of India Ataur Rahman, Consul of Haj Noor Rahman Sheikh and representatives from Ministry of Civil Aviation. (T/P010/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)