Saudi Consulate releases visas for 268 Haj pilgrims

Saudi Arabia has allotted the proportional quota for Haj pilgrims to each country on the basis of their Muslim population,and India has been allotted a quota 1.25 lakh pilgrims.

Further,each of the states in India have been allotted quotas depending on their population. The 268 pilgrims were among those whose names had been cleared by GHC and HCI through ‘qurrah’ or draw of lots.

Khan said these pilgrims were not issued visas till November 5,which was the last day for boarding Haj flights. They were finally granted visas after GHC and HCI took up the matter with the Saudi Consulate following several complaints by the pilgrims.

But another batch of 90 pilgrims from Gujarat had to cancel their pilgrimage after the Consulate issued visas only to the women and denied it their male co-pilgrims. Women are not allowed to perform Haj without their male ‘mehram’ (attendants) and all such pilgrims had to cancel their trip,Khan said.

HCI officials said such problems have been reported from places like Maharashtra and Karnataka too,but the Saudi Consulate has not given any reason for denying visas to the men.

As of now,the total number of Haj pilgrims from Gujarat going through HCI is 7,468. Another batch of 4,909 pilgrims from Gujarat are flying for Haj through 69 private tour operators from Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

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