(a) whether Saudi Arabia has slashed the Haj quota by 20 percent;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken any measures to ensure that no
further cut in Haj quota takes place; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether Saudi Arabia has slashed the Haj quota by 20 percent;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken any measures to ensure that no
further cut in Haj quota takes place; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)
(a) Yes.
(b) The Embassy of Saudi Arabia, New Delhi informed the Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) on June 05, 2013 that the Saudi authorities had
imposed a 50% reduction in the Hajj 2013 quota on local (Saudi)
applicants and 20% reduction on all foreign Hajj pilgrims to facilitate the
infra-structure work being carried out around the uHaram Sharif and to
keep the area safe and secure for the pilgrims.
(c) & (d) MEA took up the matter with the authorities in Saudi Arabia and
conveyed its concern on the 20% reduction in our quota and sought
reconsideration of the decision. On June 21, 2013, Government of Saudi
Arabia affirmed the revised quota of 136,020 fixed for the Indian Hajj
pilgrims for Hajj-2013.