The Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) & Parliamentary Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi held a review meeting with officials at Haj House, Mumbai last night to take stock of preparations for Haj. Shri Naqvi said that the Minority Affairs Ministry and other concerned departments are very serious about arrangements, facilities and safety of Haj pilgrims. Shri Naqvi said that the Minority Affairs Ministry has been sending senior officials to Saudi Arabia to take stock of arrangements, facilities, safety and to help about 1 lakh 36 thousand Indians proceeding for Haj yatra this year. Shri Naqvi also attended a training camp organized for Haj pilgrims, where he welcomed a large number of people who have been going for Haj. Besides briefing regarding Haj, disaster-management training was also provided to those going for Haj in the training camp. Shri Naqvi said that 10 per cent of total Haj applicants applied online this year and it will be encouraged on large scale for next Haj pilgrimage.
With prayers for peace, prosperity and harmony in our country and the entire world, Shri Naqvi wished a successful Haj pilgrimage. Shiv Sena MP Shri Arvind Sawant, BJP MLA Shri Raj K Purohit, Haj Committee CEO Shri Ataur Rehman, Haj Committee Member and Gujarat Coordinator Shri H B Kazmi and other dignitaries were present in the training camp. Earlier, training camps for Haj pilgrims have also been organized in various states. About 4,500 Haj pilgrims will proceed to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Haj pilgrimage from Mumbai this year from August 27. First batch of Hajis left from Delhi on 4th For Haj 2016, about 1,00,020 Haj pilgrims are being facilitated from 21 points across India through Haj Committee. Apart from this, 36,000 Haj pilgrims have been proceeding through the private tour operators.