Embracing and unifying religious sentiments, 2 lakh Indian pilgrims to visit Hajj this year

New Delhi, April 20: Connecting chords of religious beliefs and opening doors to embrace a large number of pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has issued a formal notification increasing Indian Hajj quota. The quota increases to 2 lakh from 1.75 lakh. The decision came into effect about two months after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave the assurance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

With this decision, all Hajj applicants from major states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar can visit the pilgrimage. This major step ensures that for the first time since independence, these pilgrims will go for the pilgrimage as their waiting lists have been cleared due to the increase in the quota.

During his visit to India, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his interaction with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had informed that India’s Hajj quota would be increased by about 25,000, raising the number to 2 lakh. This is the third hike in three consecutive years. In 2017, the quota was increased by 35,000 while last year, it was raised by 5,000 to take the number to 1,75,000.

Making the registration process completely digital, it has been ensured that Haj pilgrimage has not become expensive even after removal of Haj subsidy. It has also made the Haj process absolutely pro-pilgrim.

By ensuring transparency in the Hajj process and making it 100 percent online and digital, the airfare for the pilgrimage has decreased significantly, the sources said, adding in 2018, even after removal of Hajj subsidy, pilgrims saved about Rs 57 crore in airfares.

The GST on Hajj pilgrimage has been reduced from 18percent to 5 percent this year, which will ensure that about Rs 113 crore will be saved by pilgrims during the 2019 Hajj, they said.

Besides, accommodation in Madina has been taken on 100 Saudi Riyals less in comparison to the last year which will result in Indians saving about Rs 3,000 per pilgrim