New Delhi: A decision on Hajj 2021 will be taken after the Saudi Arabian government’s final call on the pilgrimage and the national, as well as international COVID-19 guidelines, will have to be kept in mind to ensure the well-being of the pilgrims, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday.
While chairing a Hajj review meeting here, Naqvi said Hajj 2021 is scheduled for June-July and the Hajj Committee of India, as well as other Indian agencies, will formally announce the application process and other related preparations for the pilgrimage after a decision is taken by the Saudi Arabian government.
Final decision regarding Hajj 2021
He said the final decision regarding Hajj 2021 will be taken in due course, keeping in view the necessary guidelines to be issued by the governments of Saudi Arabia and India in view of the coronavirus pandemic to ensure the health and well-being of people.
The entire Hajj process might witness a significant change in view of the guidelines, including those related to the accommodation, transport, health and other facilities both in India and Saudi Arabia, Naqvi said.
He said the health and well-being of the pilgrims is of utmost priority for the government in the wake of the pandemic.
The Indian agencies will ensure the necessary arrangements in this regard and the government, as well as the Hajj committee, has started the preparations to ensure good health and well-being of the pilgrims, the minister said.
Due to a 100-per cent digitisation of the Hajj process in India, Rs 2,100 crore have been returned through the direct bank transfer (DBT) mode, without any deduction, to 1,23,000 people after the cancellation of Hajj 2020 due to the pandemic, Naqvi said.
The Saudi Arabian government has also returned about Rs 100 crore for transportation, he added.