Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the union minister for Minority Affairs, has stated that the entire Haj 2022 process in India will be entirely digital. Mr Naqvi opened an online booking option at the Haj House in Mumbai on Saturday, and subsequently claimed in a statement that India sends the second-highest number of Haj pilgrims after Indonesia.
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Due to COVID-19 and a decision made by the Saudi Arabian government in light of the epidemic, he claimed the Haj could not take place in 2020 or this year. The Haj 2022 will be revealed following consultations with several agencies during the forthcoming Haj review meeting on October 21 in New Delhi, according to the announcement.
The upcoming Haj review meeting in the national capital will be attended by officials from the ministries of minorities, external affairs, health, and civil aviation, as well as India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, India’s consul general in Jeddah, and other senior officials, according to the statement.
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In India and Saudi Arabia, he said, special training for Haj 2022 pilgrims on COVID-19 norms, as well as health and cleanliness, is being planned. The minister stated, “The entire Haj 2022 process in India will be 100 percent digital.” Over 700 women applied for Haj 2021 without a ‘Mehram’ (male companion), while over 2520 women applied for Haj 2020 in the same category. If they desire to go on the pilgrimage, their applications will be accepted for Haj 2022 as well, according to Mr Naqvi. In a meeting with senior officials from the Haj Committee of India on Saturday, the minister addressed Haj 2022 preparations.
