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- By Shubham Bajpai
- Tue, 15 Apr 2025 01:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Ministry of Minority Affairs informed that the Saudi Hajj Ministry has agreed to reopen the Hajj portal for Combined Hajj Group Operators (CHGOs) to facilitate 10,000 more Indian pilgrims based on availability in Mina.
The ministry said that the Saudi Arabian authorities agreed after the Central government's intervention. The ministry further stated that the directions were issued to CHGOs to complete the process without further delays.
The ministry said, "Thanks to the Government’s intervention, the Saudi Hajj Ministry has agreed to reopen the Hajj (Nusuk) Portal for Combined Hajj Group Operators (CHGOs) to accommodate 10,000 pilgrims, based on current availability in Mina. MoMA has issued urgent directions to CHGOs to complete their process without delay."
"India remains appreciative of any further gestures from Saudi authorities to accommodate more pilgrims," the ministry further said.
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Notably, Saudi Arabia had cut the Indian private Hajj quota by 80 per cent, which triggered a row. The cancellation meant that zones in Mina that were previously allocated to private tour operators were ended. Subsequently, several leaders like Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti urged the Centre to intervene.
Taking to X, Abdullah said, "I urge Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to engage with the Saudi authorities at the earliest to explore a resolution in the interest of all affected pilgrims. This measure is crucial to ease the distress of thousands hoping to undertake the sacred pilgrimage this year."
J&K CM's Office said that the cancellation of Hajj slots for over 52,000 Indian pilgrims is deeply concerning. Many of these 52,000 pilgrims have already paid for the pilgrimage.
This year, Hajj is likely to be held between June 4 and June 9. It will depend on the moon sighting that signals Zil-Hajj's start.