New Delhi: Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday said that it is Saudi Arabia which will decide when the Hajj Yatra will start, and not the Indian government. “When will the Hajj Yatra commence, how many people will go… will be decided by the Saudi Arabia government. Over two lakh people have gone on Hajj Yatra during the Modi government,” Naqvi said. The issue was raised by AITC MP Mohammed Nadimul Haque during Zero Hour who sought to know whether the Indian pilgrims will get a chance to go for Hajj this year. “For two years, the Hajj pilgrimage has not been held due to Covid. There was no International Hajj in 2020 and 2021. Now that it seems that things are getting better. I hope that this year the pilgrims will be able to go for Hajj. This is the third year in a row that a willing person has filled the form and submitted it, but the Ministry of Minority Affairs is reluctant to say whether there will be Hajj 2022 from Hindustan or not,” he said. Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu asked Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to have personal consultation with Nadimul Haq for other Hajj related issues. UNI ASU RKM
