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The Government also said that due to its intervention, the Saudi Ministry has agreed to reopen the Haj portal so that the Chgo complete their work with respect or 10,000 pilgrims depending on the availability of current space in mine.
Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia (Image AP)
According to the reports, in the midst of Conerns on Saudi Arabia “cutting” the private Haj quota of India this year, the government on Tuesday the combined operators of the HAJ Group (CHGO) had not been able to comply with the necessary deadlines established by the Saudi authorities established by the Saudi Authority.
The Government also said that due to its intervention, the Saudi Ministry has agreed to reopen the Haj portal so that the Chgo complete their work with respect or 10,000 pilgrims depending on the availability of current space in mine.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) through the Haj Committee of India, takes care of the arrangements for most of the quota of 1.75,025 assigned to India, which is 1.22,518 in the current year.
The rest 52,507 is assigned private tour operators.
In a statement, the Ministry said that, as a result of its efforts, the country’s assignment for India, which was 1,36,020 in 2014, has gradually increased to 1.75.025 in 2025.
These quotas are completed by the Saudi authorities closest to the era of pilgrimage.
“The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) through the Haj Committee of India, administers the arrangements for most of the quota assigned to India, which is 1.22.518 in the current year. All the necessary services, transport, Schaeduding and Program have been tasks and completed according to the Saudi requirements, within the timers given,” according to the declaration.
The balance of the quota was assigned, as usual, private tour operators.
Due to the changes in the Saudi guidelines, more than 800 private tour operators were consolidated in 26 legal entities called operators of the Haj Group (CHGO), by the Ministry this year.
When addressing the legal challenges, the HAJ quota was assigned by MoMA to these 26 CHGO in advance.
“However, despite the reminders, they did not comply with the necessary deadlines established by the Saudi authorities and could not end the mandatory contracts, even for mine camps, accommodation and transport of pilgrims, as required in the Saudi regions,” “”
The Government of India has been cheating contiguously on this matter with the Saudi authorities in question, even at the ministerial level, according to the statement.
The Saudi Haj Ministry highlighted its concerns for the safety of pilgrims, particularly in mine, where Haj rituals must be completed in extreme summer heat conditions in a limited space.
He also stressed that due to delays, the space available in mine was occupied.
The Saudi authorities have also transmitted that the deadlines for any country were not extending this year, according to the statement.
“Due to government intervention, the Saudi Ministry Haj has agreed to reopen the HAJ (Nusuk Portal) portal to all Chgo to complete their work with respect or 10,000 pilgrims depending on the availability of current space in mine,” he said.
The Ministry has issued instructions to the CHGO to do it urgently.
India would naturally appreciate any gesture of the Saudi authorities for accommodation more pilgrims, the statement added.
Several opposition leaders had expressed concern after the informed cancellation or around 52,000 Haj spaces for Saudi Arabia for Indian pilgrims and urged the central government to address the matter with their leadership.
“The cancellation reported from the Hajj slot for 52,000 Indian pilgrims, many of whom have already completed payments, is deeply worrying. I insert Hon’blee Minister of External Affairs @DRSJANKAR Abdullah
“This measure is crucial to relieve the anguish of thousands with the hope of undertaking the sacred pilgrimage this year,” he had published about his official X mango.
The president of the Farooq Abdullah National Conference also appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk to Saudi leadership in this regard.
The president of PDP, Mehbooba Mufti, said that the sudden decision to reduce the Hajj quota has caused an immense anguish for both pilgrims and tour operators.
“The disturbing news that arise from Saudi Arabia. The reports indicate that 80% of the Haj’s private quota of India has bone abruptly. This sudden decision is causing an immense anguish for pilgrims and tour operators in all Tountry’s tountia, this matter with the Saudi government to seek a resolution @meaindia @drsjaisjar,” he published in X.
The secretary general of Congress, Syed Naseer Hussain, said he was surprised to know that 52,000 Indian pilgrim spaces had a leg “canceled despite payments.”
“I urge the honorable Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar to immediately initiate the conversations with the Saudi authorities to find a solution and ensure that India recovers the slots. The great Muslim population of India, the highest number of spaces!” He had said.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a FEED – PTI syndicated news agency)