Hajj pilgrims in a fix as applications not yet considered

MALAPPURAM: With the applications for the Hajj pilgrimage still not getting considered, the state hajj committee looks to approach the ministry of minority affairs to speed up the working of the newly formed draft rules for the Hajj pilgrimage. As per the rules, the Hajj applications will be considered only after the draft rules are published by the ministry. Earlier, the hajj committee chairman informed the date of considering the applications as the first of January, but nothing productive has happened since.

Hajj begins at the end of June. So it is needed for the pilgrims to travel from the first of June. The Saudi Hajj ministry has allotted 1,75,025 seats for Indian pilgrims this time. From this, 80% of seats go to hajj committees while the rest 20% will go to private hajj organizations. The pilgrims will see a hassle-free trip to Saudi only if the Indian government considers the applications at least by January last week.