NEW DELHI – Saudi Arabia has increased India’s Haj quota by 5,000, thesecond hike in two years, taking the number of pilgrims who can perform Hajfrom the country to 1,75,025 lakh, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi saidon Tuesday, Hindustan Times has reported.
Naqvi claimed that the increase over the past two years – of nearly 40,000– is a “record expansion” since Independence.
The increase in India’s quota will be effective from Haj to be held laterthis year. Saudi Arabia last year increased India’s quota by 35,000. In2017, the Haj quota was 1,70,025.
The minority affairs minister attributed the increase to Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s “growing popularity” and India’s improved ties with SaudiArabia and other Arab nations under his leadership.
“It is a record expansion after Independence. The Modi government has beenfulfilling the socio-economic, religious needs with honesty, withoutappeasement politics,” Naqvi said.
In a statement, he added: “Three years ago, during the Congress regime,India’s Haj quota was about 1,36,020, which has been increased to record1,75,025 in the past two years.”
He also thanked the custodian of the two holy mosques, Saudi Arabia’s KingSalman bin Abdulaziz al Saud and the Saudi government for the increase inIndia’s quota.
The Gulf country has expanded India’s quota after Naqvi signed a bilateralannual Haj agreement between India and Saudi Arabia with the Haj and UmrahMinister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Mecca.
Saudi Arabia has also given the green signal for India’s decision to revivethe option of sending Haj pilgrims through sea route, Naqvi reiterated. Hesaid officials from both the countries will discuss formalities andtechnicalities so that Haj pilgrimage through sea route can start in comingyears.
He said about 3.55 lakh people have applied for Haj this year, adding thatfor the first time Muslim women from India will go to Haj without ‘Mehram’(male companion).
More than 1,300 women have applied to go for Haj without ‘Mehram’ and theywill be exempted from lottery system and allowed to proceed for Haj.
Women above 45 years of age, who wish to go for Haj but who don’t have amale companion, are allowed to travel for Haj in groups of four or more,according to the new Haj policy of India. PTI