New Delhi: The Centre on Monday said that Haj 2021 will depend on the national and international protocol guidelines in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the government said it will soon start the preparations for the Haj and receive applications.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said this after chairing a virtual meeting attended by Haj Committee of India CEO Maqsood Ahmad, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs P.K. Das, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs Vipul, Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia Ausaf Saeed and other officials. Many important decisions regarding Haj were taken in this meeting.
• Islam not confined to ritualistic prayers: Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz in his new book
• Hajj 2020 begins, 1000 pilgrims of all ethnicities on way to Arafat
• 'Pilgrims selected for Hajj 2020 should be finalised for Hajj 2021 without Qurrah'
Naqvi said after the meeting that Haj 2021 will depend on national-international protocol guidelines in view of the pandemic.
"Haj 2021 is to take place in the month of July. But a final decision will be taken after a thorough review of the coronavirus spread and the health guidelines of Saudi Arabia and the Government of India", he said.
"The Haj Committee of India and other Indian agencies will soon start preparations for Haj 2021 and start receiving applications. A formal announcement regarding the applications and other procedures will be made after the decision in respect of Haj 2021 by the Saudi Arabian government", the government said.
The Minister said due to the epidemic, the arrangements for the pilgrimage will see changes in a big way keeping in mind the guidelines. "The health of the Haj pilgrims is the priority of the government", he added.
"India and Saudi Arabia are in touch on this issue", he said.
Haj 2020 was curtailed to only 1000 pilgrims that too coming from within the Kingdom. None of the pilgrims from othe parts of the world, including India, could perform Hajj in 2020.
There is also a demand to select all those who had applied for Haj this year to be directly, i.e. without qurrah and draw of lots, selected for Haj 2021.
According to information, Rs 2,100 crore of 1.23 lakh pilgrims, who were unable to go on Haj in 2020 because of the pandemic, have been returned without any deduction.
The three-year pending amount of about Rs 514 crore of the Haj pilgrims has also been returned during this corona period.
The result of the 100 per cent digital system in India is that money was sent directly into the accounts even during the ongoing pandemic, which has happened for the first time in the history of the Haj pilgrimage.
For all the latest News, Opinions and Views, download ummid.com App.
Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
NEET 2020: 06 Muslims among toppers
Also Read
NEET 2020 result out, Shoyeb Aftab AIR 1
Hindu Communalism, Muslim Minorities and Indian Constitution
'Future is for Islam': French Prez Macron reminded after his infamous speech
'Act before entire system breaks down': Bombay HC on Media Trial
'A Businessman Extraordinary': Bajaj hailed for blacklisting 'toxic' news channels
