Preparations for Haj pilgrims on smooth track: Krishna
August 12th, 2010 - 4:35 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) Preparations for the Haj pilgrimage are on fast track and nearly 80,000 accommodations have already been secured, the government said Thursday.
“A senior level officer of the external affairs ministry is in Saudi Arabia to look after the preparations,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna informed the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.
The minister said nearly 160,000 pilgrims will go for Haj this year.
Refuting allegations from some opposition members that the subsidy given for Haj is utilised only for recovering the deficit of Air India in taking the pilgrims, the minister said a process of competitive bidding has been adopted this year.
“Saudi airlines will also carry the pilgrims,” Krishna said.
The minister added that over three lakh applications were received and the quota for the pilgrimage was decided on the basis of population of Muslims in every state.
Earlier, replying to another question, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said the process for allotting passports to the Haj pilgrims was on fast track and a special Haj committee and nodal officer have been appointed to oversee the process.
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- Expedite passports for Haj pilgrims, UP urges centre - Apr 11, 2012
- Valid passports must for Indian Haj pilgrimage from 2012 - May 22, 2012
- Remove Haj subsidy in 10 years, SC tells government (Third Lead) - May 08, 2012
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- Haj VIP quota is bad: Supreme Court - Oct 18, 2011
- Haj subsidy to end in 10 years, rules Supreme Court (Roundup) - May 08, 2012
- India pays Rs.600 crore as Haj subsidy annually - May 08, 2012
- Apex court backs women tour operators on Haj quota (Lead) - Apr 30, 2012
- Record number of Indian pilgrims head for Haj - Oct 12, 2010
- Three Indian Haj pilgrims die - Oct 07, 2011
- Pakistan protests ill-treatment of Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia - Nov 19, 2010
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