Mehbooba Mufti seeks MEA’s intervention over cut in private Hajj quota

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to intervene in the matter of 80 per cent cut in India’s private Hajj.

Saudi Arabia has taken many crowd control measures for Hajj 2025, including new travel restrictions and the suspension of certain visa issuances to people from 14 countries, including India. As a result, about 52,OOO Indian pilgrims face uncertainty after the Kingdom cancelled access to Mina zones that were earlier allotted to private tour operators.

Taking to social media, Mehbooba wrote, “Disturbing news emerging from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that 80 per cent of India’s private Haj quota has been cut abruptly. This sudden decision is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators across the country. Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately intervene by taking up this matter with the Saudi government to seek a resolution.”

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage for Muslims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. This year, Hajj is expected to take place from June 4 to June 9, depending on the sighting of the moon that marks the beginning of Zil-Hajj—the 12^th month of the Islamic calender. Pilgrims are expected to start their journey by the end of April. The pilgrimage is performed during a particular period that culminates with Eid-ul-Adha.

Indian pilgrims travel through either the Hajj Committee of India (HCoI), a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, or through Private Tour Operators (PTOs), also known as Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs).

Earlier, in January 2025, India signed a Haj agreement with Saudi Arabia, finalising a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims. The agreement was signed by Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, in Jeddah.

“Hajj Agreement 2025 signed with Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister for Hajj and Umrah of the Kindom of Saudi Arabia. Finalised a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India for Hajj 2025. We are committed to providing the best possible services to all our Haj pilgrims,” Rijiju posted on X in January.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha in January, Rijiju said the quota distribution between HCoI and HGOs for 2025 remained consistent with previous years, in a ratio of 70:30, which has been communicated vide the Hajj Policy-2025 issued on August 5, 2024.

For Hajj 2025, the quota of Haj pilgrims allotted to HGOs is 30 per cent of India’s total of 1,75,025, ie 52,507, Rijiju said.

He added that the quota distribution over the last five years has varied between 70:30 and 80:20.