Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lauded the increase in the Haj quota and simplified visa process for Muslim pilgrims from India to Saudi Arabia, saying that he had requested the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed – Bin- Salman to raise the Haj quota.
Addressing a public rally in Aligarh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi said, “Earlier, due to a lesser Haj quota, there used to be a lot of fighting and bribery was also prevalent. Only the influential people would get the chance to go for Haj. I had requested the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to increase the Haj quota for our Muslim brothers and sisters in India.”
PM Modi highlighted that his government also fulfilled the long-standing wishes of thousands of Muslim women keen to perform Haj without a male companion or ‘mehram’.
“I am being blessed by thousands of sisters whose dream of going for Haj has been fulfilled,” he said.
In 2019, during the PM’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince announced increasing India’s Haj quota to 200,000.
The Bilateral Haj Agreement for 2024 was recently signed, finalizing a quota of 175,025 Indian pilgrims, with 140,020 seats reserved through the Haj Committee of India and 35,005 pilgrims permitted via Haj Group Operators.
Every year, millions of Muslims around the world embark on a sacred pilgrimage known as Hajj/Haj. This spiritual journey holds immense significance in the lives of believers, offering an opportunity to connect with Allah, seek forgiveness, and strengthen their faith. The heartfelt desire to be among those walking to Mina, echoing the Labaik with the crowd, and performing the rituals of Haj is a sentiment shared by countless individuals.
(Inputs from ANI)