Indian Haj quota stays at 136,000

India’s quota for Haj 2014 will remain the same as the previous year due to the ongoing expansion work of the grand mosque in Makkah.
A total of 136,000 Indian pilgrims will perform Haj this year, according to Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar.
Last year India’s actual agreement was on a quota of 170,025 which was later reduced to 136,020.
Saudi Arabia has informed India that it will stay committed to the 20 percent reduction of foreign pilgrims and 50 percent inland pilgrims owing to the expansion work in the holy sites. Bandar Hajjar made this statement in a meeting with the Indian Haj delegation led by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed on Sunday, Haj Ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Ghamdi told Arab News.
Hajjar reiterated that the reduction was necessary to facilitate the easy movement of pilgrims inside the Grand Mosque.
The Indian Haj delegation includes Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai and other senior officials while the Saudi side included Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar, Undersecretary Hatem Qadi and other senior officials.
The Haj Ministry also stated that the “Indian delegation hailed the efforts of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to expand the Grand Mosque and for conducting a smooth Haj in 2013.”
The Indian delegation, which arrived on Saturday, also discussed accommodation and transportation arrangements with the Saudi authorities besides several other topics related to Haj operations.
According to sources, India has emphasized upon the introduction of an electronic service from this year’s Haj season to expedite the Haj process.