Due to the COVID-19 threat, Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Minister Mohammad Saleh Bin Taher Benten called Indian Government on Monday night to convey that pilgrims should not be sent this year because of the Pandemic crisis.
India’s Minority Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the Government has decided that Muslims from India will not travel to Saudia Arabia for Hajj 2020.
The Wire quoted Naqvi saying “We have decided that Haj pilgrims from India will not be sent to Saudi Arabia for Haj 2020. Application money of more than 2.3 lakh pilgrims will be returned without cancellation deductions through direct transfer,”
However Hajj is not entirely cancelled this year. Other nationals who are already residing in the country would be allowed to perform this holy ritual. This is the first time since the 90 years after formation of Saudi Arabia the Hajj is getting almost brought to a standstill.
The application money of all travelers will be returned through Direct Transfer, the Govt added.