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No Haj Pilgrim this year: Central Minorities Minister Naqvi
Posted on: 23/Jun/2020 5:11:47 PM
The Central Minister for Minorities Welfare, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has informed that the Indian Muslims will not undertake the usual Haj pilgrimage this year due to the raging spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Undertaking the Haj pilgrimage is considered one of the main duties in the life of Muslims. Haj Pilgrimage is set to commence next month.
Lakhs of Muslims from several countries all over the world visit the cities of Mecca Madina every year.
In this situation, the government of Saudi Arabia released an announcement regarding this year’s Haj pilgrimage.
“In case the people undertake the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca, it will not be possible to keep the main requirement of social distancing between persons for the prevention of the coronavirus infection. So, permission will not be given to the people undertaking the Haj pilgrimage and visiting Mecca. However, the foreigners who reside in Saudi can undertake the Haj pilgrimage.
The Central Minister fro Minorities Welfare, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi observed in this regard:
“India welcomes the decision by the Government of Saudi Arabia not to allow Muslims from foreign countries to undertake Haj pilgrimage! We all are aware that this decision has been taken duly considering the welfare of the people. Due to the raging coronavirus pandemic, Muslims from India will not undertake the Haj pilgrimage this year.
In this regard, the charges paid for the Haj pilgrimage by over 2.3 Lakhs persons will be refunded without any deductions.
I talked to the Saudi Arabian Minister for Haj and Umra Mohammad Saleh Bin Brendan. He requested not to send any pilgrims from India because of the raging coronavirus pandemic.
Further, during the year 2019, around 2 lakhs Indians undertook the Haj pilgrimage. Out of these, 50% were women and they had undertaken the pilgrimage without any men accompanying them!”
