New Delhi: Foreign Minister Vikram Misri said in a briefing on Saturday that India has obtained a deal from Saudi Arabia to allow 10,000 Indian pilgrims (52,000 out of the approximately 52,000 trips with private tour operators) said in a briefing on Saturday. He added that New Delhi “is to keep in touch with any further measures” which shows the hope that more pilgrims can be accommodated.
Under the current arrangement, the total quota for India is 1,75,000. Among them, the Ministry of Ethnic Minority Affairs manages 1,22,000 slot machines through the Indian Council and allocates 53,000 to the HAJ Group Operator (CHGOS), 26 private tourism entities composed of more than 800 operators. The reopening of the Nusuk portal in Saudi Arabia allows CHGO to finalize the arrangement of 10,000 pilgrims based on the available space in Mina.
Despite repeated reminders, New Delhi intervened when CHGOS missed Saudi time with Mina camp, accommodation and transportation. Misri said Saudi Haji’s department was raised after safety issues following last year’s fatal accident and the extreme heat of intensive ritual sites and did not extend the deadlines in any country.
India has directed all CHGOs to complete their formalities “emergency” to achieve the first batch of 10,000 pilgrims.
Misri noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is making an official visit in Riyadh next week, will bring the matter directly to the Saudi leader. “Pilgrimage is an important issue on both sides,” he said, adding that both sides will discuss ways to expand the pilgrimage quota. Earlier this week, India praised any gestures from the Saudi authorities to accommodate other pilgrims.
