Individuals’s Democratic Get together (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has urged Union Ministry of Exterior Affairs to ‘instantly’ intervene and take up the matter of 80 per cent of India’s personal Hajj quota been reduce abruptly this 12 months. This sudden determination, the previous Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has induced misery for pilgrims and tour operators.
“Disturbing information rising from Saudi Arabia. Experiences point out that 80% of India’s personal Haj quota has been reduce abruptly,” Mufti mentioned in a put up on X on Sunday, April 13.
“This sudden determination is inflicting immense misery for pilgrims and tour operators throughout the nation,” she mentioned and urged “Ministry of Exterior Affairs to right away intervene by taking on this matter with the Saudi authorities to hunt a decision.”
The Hajj pilgrimage for Indian pilgrims is performed both via the Haj Committee of India (HCoI), a statutory organisation underneath the executive management of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, or via Non-public Tour Operators (PTOs).
In January 2025, India signed a Haj settlement with Saudi Arabia, finalising a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for itself. Union Ministry of Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju signed the settlement with Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah in Jeddah.
“Haj Settlement 2025 signed with Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister for Hajj and Umrah of Kindom of Saudi Arabia. Finalized a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India for Haj 2025. We’re dedicated to offering the very best providers to all our Haj pilgrims,” Rijiju mentioned in a put up on X in Janaury.
In a written reply to a query within the Rajya Sabha earlier, Rijiju mentioned that for the 12 months 2025, the quota has been distributed throughout the identical vary between HCoI and HGOs, within the ratio of 70:30, which has been communicated vide the Hajj Coverage-2025 issued on August 5, 2024.
For Hajj 2025, the quota of Haj pilgrims allotted to HGOs is 30 per cent of India’s complete of 1,75,025, i.e. 52,507, he had mentioned. The minister had additionally mentioned that within the final 5 years, the quota distribution between HCoI and HGOs has diverse between 70:30 and 80:20.
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