Latest news with #CHGOs
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
More than 42,000 Hajj pilgrims left in lurch, Rijiju urged to step in
Flagging 'restlessness in the Muslim community' after 42,000 Hajj pilgrims who had booked their travel through private operators were 'left in the lurch', BJP's national minority morcha Jamal Siddiqui has appealed to Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to intervene. Siddiqui had received representations on the issue from All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board that only around 10,000 of 52,507 pilgrims, who had opted for travel to Mecca through private operators, were able to register to proceed with their journey between June 4 and 9. Demanding action against private tour operators, Siddiqui wrote to Rijiju: 'For the 2025 Haj pilgrimage, 52,507 seats were part of the quota of private tour operators. But due to their negligence and incapability, the Saudi government had done away with this quota. After your efforts, only a quota of 10,000 seats could be achieved.' Siddiqui said, 'For such negligence related to such pious work, the quota under private operators should be cancelled for good, given to the Hajj Committee (of India) and the responsible private tour operators should be issued fines in addition to being blacklisted…' A senior BJP leader aware of the issue said, 'Prerequisites were supposed to be done through the Saudi Arabia government-run online portal, NUSUK, which is no longer accepting applications, leaving more than 42,000 such pilgrims who have made flight arrangements, in the lurch.' On April 15, the Ministry of Minority Affairs said that these quotas are finalized by the Saudi authorities closer to the time of the pilgrimage and the Ministry, through the Haj Committee of India, manages arrangements for the bulk of the quota allotted to India, which is 1,22,518 in the current year. 'Due to changes in Saudi guidelines, more than 800 Private Tour Operators were consolidated into 26 legal entities termed Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs), by MoMA this year… the Haj quota was allocated by MoMA to these 26 CHGOs well in advance. However, despite reminders, they failed to comply with the necessary timelines set by the Saudi authorities and failed to finalise the mandatory contracts… 'Due to the government's intervention, the Saudi Haj Ministry has agreed to reopen the Haj Portal (Nusuk Portal) to all CHGOs to complete their work in respect of 10,000 pilgrims based on the current space availability in Mina,' it had said. Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express. Over the last 15 years, he has covered bureaucracy & politics, crime, traffic & intelligence, the Election Commission of India & Urban Development among other beats. He is an English (Literature) graduate from Zakir Husain Delhi College, DU & specialised in Print at the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. He tweets @jatinpaul ... Read More
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
First batch of Indian Haj pilgrims arrives in Saudi Arabia
New Delhi: The first batch of Indian Haj pilgrims were accorded a warm welcome at the Madina Airport in Saudi Arabia by Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom, Suhel Khan and Consul General Fahad Suri on Tuesday. They were joined by the Saudi Deputy Minister for Haj and Umrah, Abdulaziz A. Wazzan, and several other senior Saudi officials. As many as 1,22,518 pilgrims from India will be undertaking the sacred journey during Haj 2025 with the first two flights carrying 288 pilgrims from Lucknow and 262 pilgrims from Hyderabad landing today, Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju posted on X. The pilgrims were given a warm welcome upon their arrival and their entry procedures were completed in a swift and efficient manner. They were transferred to their accommodations in Madina subsequently. 'Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India remains committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless Haj pilgrimage for all. Prayers for a safe, blessed and spiritually enriching pilgrimage,' Rijiju stated. The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded highest priority for Indian Muslims to undertake the annual pilgrimage. As a result of the efforts, the country allocation for India has gradually increased to 175,025 in 2025 from 136,020 in 2014. The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) through the Haj Committee of India manages arrangements for the bulk of the quota allotted to India, which is 122,518 in the current year. All the necessary arrangements including flight schedules, transportation, Mina camps, accommodation, and additional services have been taken up and completed as per the Saudi requirements, within the given timelines. The balance of over 52,000 slots of the quota were allotted as is customary to private tour operators. Due to changes in Saudi guidelines, more than 800 Private Tour Operators were consolidated into 26 legal entities termed Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs), by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, this year. Addressing legal challenges, the Haj quota was allocated by the Ministry to these 26 CHGOs well in advance. However, despite reminders, they failed to comply with the necessary timelines set by the Saudi authorities and failed to finalise the mandatory contracts, including for Mina camps, accommodation, and transport of pilgrims.
