Centre promises better Haj facilities

New Delhi: The Centre Monday promised to bring in significant improvement in facilities for Haj pilgrims and request Saudi Arabia to withdraw 20 per cent cut in India’s quota for the annual pilgrimage.

Acknowledging that there have been shortcomings in arrangement for the pilgrims, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also criticised Air India for charging Rs 1.54 lakh for  ticket per pilgrim from those going from Srinagar aga-inst around Rs 62,800 for tho-se who had gone from other designated airports.

Addressing the All-India Annual Conference for Haj, Ms Swaraj identified accommodation for pilgrims as a major issue and said there was a need to think about a long-term solution  and indicated that the government may go for having own accommodation for Indian pilgrims in Mecca and neighbouring areas.

“Can we develop some complex in the area in cooperation with Saudi Arabia. They can be used for Haj pilgrimage for three mon-ths and for remaining nine months, people going for Umrah and Ziyarat can stay there,” Ms Swaraj said.

She also said there were Indian properties in Mecca before independence and the government will enq-uire what happened to them.

On cut in Haj quota from last year’s 1.70 lakh to 1.36 lakh in the current year, she said the issue will be taken up with Saudi Arabia.