Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the centre is considering sending Haj pilgrims by sea. (File)
The government is working on a new Haj pilgrimage policy which is likely to be announced next year, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said while inaugurating a vaccination programme for Haj pilgrims in Hyderabad. "We are working on a new Haj policy. I cannot reveal more details now. The new policy provides more facilities to Haj pilgrims.
Insha Allah, it will come next year," he said.
He said Saudi Arabia has increased India's Haj pilgrim quota to 1.70 lakh a year. Five years ago, Saudi Arabia reduced the cap on foreign pilgrims allowed into the country by 20 per cent, citing safety concerns while undertaking expansion of the Grand Mosque in Mecca. India's pilgrim quota was also reduced to 1.36 lakh from 1.70 lakh in 2012.
Referring to requests made by the Telangana government to increase the state's quota of Haj pilgrims, Mr Naqvi said the limit was raised based on
increased pilgrim traffic from the state. He said his ministry is in talks with the Shipping Corporation of India to see if pilgrims can be sent by sea.
"For the last 30 years we have not
used the sea route. We are talking to the Shipping Corporation of India. [Shipping Minister] Nitin Gadkari is very positive and helpful on this matter. We discussed this issue with Saudi authorities also. They are cooperative. May be from next year onwards, we will be using ship voyage also," Mr Naqvi said.
He said the sea route may reduce the cost of travel.