SRINAGAR: The Government of India has mooted a proposal that has been forwarded to the Hajj Ministry of Saudi Arabia suggesting considering the Haj aspirants who have attained the age of 65 years.
The suggestions came to the fore in a meeting of the Central Haj Committee of India held in Mumbai. Quoting sources privy to the meeting news agency KNO reported that in the meeting, members suggested that in the year 2020, some Haj aspirants who had applied for Haj died and others couldn’t take off the journey as the pandemic scuttled the Haj for 2020 and 2021.
“We deliberated on the issue threadbare and suggestions came to fore that the Haj aspirants who have attained the age of 65 years should be considered for the Haj 2022,” member of the Central Haj Committee of India, Er Aijaz Hussain said.
He said that over 55000 people will perform Hajj in the year 2022 from various parts of India and from J&K 5196 Haj aspirants will perform the sacred journey. “We will see if the Saudi government agrees to accommodate the people having attained the age of 65 years,” Er Aijaz said. From J&K alone, some 10,000 applications were received by the Haj committee. There will be draws now to select the aspirants, which is expected in a few days from now.
Pertinently, the Haj Ministry of India recently announced the Haj quota for countries. This year, one million people will perform Hajj. “We are hopeful that the Saudi government will accommodate the Haj aspirants having attained the age of 65 years,” he said.
Interestingly, the Saudi government recently announced that Haj aspirants up to the age of 64 years are entitled to Haj 2022.
