New Delhi (NVI): Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said that Haj 2021, that is scheduled to take place by June-July next year, will depend on national and international COVID-19 protocols.
During a high-level review meeting on the status of annual pilgrimage for next year, Naqvi said that a final decision regarding Haj 2021 will be taken in due course keeping in view the necessary guidelines to be issued by the government of Saudi Arabia and India in the wake of the pandemic.
“Haj Committee of India and other Indian agencies will formally announce Haj 2021 application process and other related preparations after decision taken by the Saudi Arabia government,” he added.
The Union Minister also said that the entire Haj process might witness significant changes in view of guidelines including accommodation, transport, health and other facilities both in India and Saudi Arabia, adding that the health and well-being of the pilgrims is the utmost priority for the governments.
Naqvi further informed that, Rs 2,100 crore of 1.23 lakh pilgrims, who were unable to go on Haj this year amid the COVID-19 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 period.
“The result of the 100 per cent digital system in India is that the money was returned through the Direct Bank Transfer (DBT) mode into the accounts even during the ongoing pandemic,” Naqvi added.
-RJV/ARK
