Friday, December 14, 2018

Jeddah: 14 December 2018: (Bhatkallys News Bureau) A high level delegation, led by Mr. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Hon’ble Minister of Minority Affairs, Government of India, visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 13 December, 2018 in Jeddah, to sign the bilateral Haj Agreement 2019. The delegation met with Dr. Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, Minister of Haj & Umrah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and other members of Saudi delegation.

An official level meeting was also organised at the Ministry of Haj and Umrah in Jeddah, before signing the main bilateral agreement, where Mr. Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh, Consul General of India, Dr. Maqsood Ahmed Khan, CEO, Haj Committee of India, Mr. Nizamuddin, Director, Ministry of Minority Affairs and Mr. Mohd. Shahid Alam, DCG/Consul (Haj) represented the official-level delegation from India.

The official delegation congratulated Ministry of Haj and Umrah for successful Haj arrangements in Haj 2018 and held deliberations and discussions on several significant aspects of the forthcoming Haj 2019.

India is amongst the countries which has successfully implemented the online e-path system of Ministry of Haj and Umrah and the Minister has assured his Saudi counterpart India’s full support and cooperation for continued success of e-path in the forthcoming Haj as well as any other ICT initiative of the Ministry of Haj & Umrah.

Among the other issues discussed the Indian Minister requested his Saudi counterpart to increase India’s Haj quota from one lakh seventy thousand to one lakh ninety thousand and hoped that his government will consider India’s request.

Naqvi also added that arrangement for Haj pilgrimage via ships were not possible this year and that for next year the Indian Government will call tenders. While also adding that Indian government started application filing process two-months earlier than usual to make better arrangements for the pilgrims, and also confirmed that about three lakh Haj applications have already been received by the government.

Source: http://www.bhatkallys.com/gulf/mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-requests-increase-of-haj-quota-for-india-during-his-saudi-visit/