Two Hundred Thousand Indian Muslims to Be Allowed to Participate in 2023 Hajj: Report
Official announcements in this regard will be made shortly. This is for the first time that two lakh Indian Muslims will perform Haj 2023.
Member HCoI, Er Aijaz Hussain said that HCoI after thorough consultations with the Saudi Arabia Government’s Hajj ministry, has decided to allow two lakh pilgrims from India for the Haj 2023. “The Hajj quota has been increased and for the year 2023, two lakh pilgrims will perform the holy pilgrimage,” he said. “In Hajj 2023, special focus will be on women pilgrims.”
Asked whether the J&K will also have an enhanced Haj quota, Er Aijaz said that the number of pilgrims from UT will obviously be more than the previous years given the increase in Hajj quota.
He said it was after hectic efforts by the HCoI that the Hajj quota for India was increased to two lakh. “We are also working to make Hajj 2023 cheaper and smooth compared to previous pilgrimages,” Er Aijaz said.
He said that HCoI has already decided to ensure more embankment points to facilitate pilgrims in a friendly manner. “Pilgrims will have a choice to choose the embankment points of their choice,” he said. He said that in Hajj 2023, special focus will also be on women pilgrims. “Earlier, many women aspiring to go for Hajj without ‘mahram’ faced a lot of issues. We will address their issues and allow them to perform the Hajj smoothly,” Er Aijaz said.
Pertinently, after the resumption of Haj in 2022 after two years of break due to the Covid pandemic, only 80,000 Indian Muslims performed Haj. All of them had to undergo Covid vaccination and take along the vaccination certificate as part of mandatory documents.
Source: dailygoodmorningkashmir.com
