The Indian ministry of Minority Affairs which oversees the entire Haj operations has initiated full refund of all Haj applicants who were to perform Haj this year due to cancellation of pilgrimage following coronavirus pandemic
“ The ministry will refund total amount to all applicant without any deduction through online and the amount will be transferred to their account directly,“ Federal minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
The minister said he received a phone call from Haj & Umrah Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten who suggested not to send Haj pilgrims from India to Haj for this year (1441 H/ 2020 AD) due to Corona pandemic.
Naqvi said that the entire world is facing challenges of Corona pandemic and Saudi Arabia too has been affected by the virus
Honouring the decision of the Saudi Arabia Government because of serious challenges of Corona pandemic and keeping in mind the health and well-being of the people, it has been decided that Muslims from India will not go to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj (1441 H/2020 AD).
Naqvi said that 2 lakh 13,000 applications had been received for Haj 2020.
“Now the process has been started to immediately refund full amount of money deposited by the applicants without any deduction” The money will be refunded through online DBT mode into bank accounts of the applicants, he said.
Last year, Naqvi said that a total of 2 lakh Indian Muslims had performed Haj in 2019. These pilgrims included 50 per cent women.
A total of 3040 women have performed Haj after the Modi Government ensured Muslim women can perform Haj without Mehram (male companion) in 2018.
This year too, more than 2300 women had applied to perform Haj without Mehram. “These women will be allowed to go to Haj 2021 on the basis of their application for Haj 2020 only. Besides, women who file new application, will also be allowed to go to Haj next year. “ Naqvi said
The cancellation of Haj will results in huge losses running into hundreds of crores including loss of employment. Many private tour operators have been severely affected Thousands who get indirect employment too will be affected
The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Haj and Umrah issued a statement which says “Due to Corona pandemic and the risks of Coronavirus spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings, it has been decided that Haj for this year (1441 H/ 2020 AD) will be held whereby a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it. This decision is taken to ensure Haj is performed safely from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols.”
S A H Rizvi
The Times Kuwait
Bureau Chief
New Delhi
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