New Delhi: The Hajj Committee of India on Tuesday cancelled applications for Hajj 2021. The announcement comes after Saudi Arabia barred foreign pilgrims from attending the annual pilgrimage citing health risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Hajj & Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued a statement informing the same. The kingdom has limited the total number of pilgrims for this year's Hajj to 60000, allowing only citizens and residents to take part.
"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has decided to allow citizens and residents inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia only to attend Hajj 1442 in limited numbers. International Hajj has been cancelled," read the Hajj Committee of India circular undersigned by its CEO Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan.
"Hence it has been decided by the Hajj Committee of India that all the applications for Hajj 2021 stand cancelled," he added.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan said, "There were around 60,000 applicants for this year's Hajj from all over India. We hadn't selected any of the applicants and no money was collected from them this year."
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On Saturday, Saudi Arabia announced that this year's Hajj pilgrimage will be limited to no more than 60,000 people, all from within the kingdom due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Kingdom in a statement said that people between the ages of 18 to 65, who wish to perform the Hajj this year must be free of chronic diseases and be vaccinated.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is honoured to host pilgrims every year, confirms that this arrangement comes out if its constant concern for the health, safety and security of pilgrims as well as the safety of their countries," the statement added.
As many as 2 lakh pilgrims used to visit Saudi Arabi for Hajj every year from India. This is the second year in a row that Saudi Arabia has limited the Hajj pilgrimage to Muslims inside the country.
