The quota of Haj pilgrims is likely to reduce this year as the Central government is contemplating on cutting down the quota fixed for private tour operators, Union minister of external affairs Salman Khurshid said on Sunday.
However, there won’t be any change in the number of Haj pilgrims going on the pilgrimage through the Haj Committee of India, Mr Khurshid clarified.
He was speaking at a seminar on “7 years on Sachchar” organised by Strive for Eminence and Empowerment (SEE).
“The Saudi government has asked us to reduce the number of pilgrims by 20 per cent, which comes to 34,000. We don’t want to reduce the quota of the Haj committee, as it is the only opportunity for the poor to go for pilgrimages. Hence, we are contemplating restricting the quota of private tour operators,” Mr Khurshid said.
To decide on the matter, the Haj Committee of India will be meeting in the next two days, Mr Khurshid informed.
The Saudi government is presently undertaking major expansion work in the holy city of Mecca. The Grand Mosque is being expanded at the cost of $21 billion, raising its capacity to accommodate 22 lakh people at a time.
With regard to the massive infrastructure expansion in the holy city of Mecca, the Saudi Arabian government has decided to reduce the quota of all countries by 20 per cent for this year, as they wanted to control the crowd of pilgrims, which they believe might affect the project. Like other countries, India has been allotted a quota for Haj pilgrims, which comes to 1,70,000. Of these, 1,25,000 go through the Haj Committee of India, while the remaining 45,000 pilgrims, use the service of private tour operators.
Meanwhile, Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed, who was also present on the occasion, said states are answerable and accountable to the Commission for inclusive growth.
Mr Khurshid also expressed hope that the Supreme Court would uphold the Centre's decision to provide 4.5 per cent reservation in education and government jobs to backward classes among minorities.
“The matter is before the constitutional bench and we hope that the decision would get legal clearance soon. The decision of the Centre was just and legal,” Mr Khurshid said.
The Sachar committee highlighted the social, economic and educational status of Indian Muslims. Mr Khurshid said there were 14 per cent minorities of which nine per cent belonged to backward classes.