Only One Lakh Pilgrims from Haj Committee

Mumbai: India will send around 135,000 pilgrims to perform Hajj this year. It was announced at the high level meeting of the Central Haj Committee on July 17 held at the Baitul Hujjaj, the headquarters of the Committee. The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Haj Committee, Mahboob Ali Qaiser and vice chairman, Sultan Ahmed who is member of Lok Sabha representing Trinamool Congress Party.
The Committee will send 100,020 pilgrims while another 35,000 will travel through private Hajj tour operators. It was mentioned that the Saudi Government has permitted only 135,000 pilgrims from India due to ongoing construction work in the Masjidul Harem premises. The usual quote for Indian pilgrims is 170,000.
The Committee will charter flights from Air India, Saudi Airlines and Spicejet companies. The Committee decided that the inaugural flight for Hajj would be flagged off by either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister. Chief Ministers of the respective states would be invited to flag off the flights from the state capitals.
The Committee also recommended that the Hajj affairs should be under the Ministry of External Affairs instead of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.