Covid-19 effect: Funds, passports of Haj applicants returned

Delhi Haj Committee has returned money and passport of almost all Haj applicants, except women candidates (who were to go without Mahram). Few left would also get their money transferred to their respective bank accounts soon.

New Delhi: In view of the coronavirus crisis, the Delhi Haj Committee has returned funds and passports of all applicants who wanted to go to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.

According to Delhi Haj Committee, executive officer Ashfaq Ahmed the funds and the passports of all selected candidates for Haj have been refunded.

He, however, said women selected to go for the pilgrimage without 'Mahram' (a person who may serve as a legal escort of a woman during journeys longer than three days) would be sent for Haj next year on the basis of the selection done this year itself.

Ahmed told ETV Bharat here that money and passport of almost all, except women candidates (who were to go without Mahram), have been returned. Few left would also get their money transferred to their respective bank accounts soon.

He said most of the applicants had already submitted their Haj fee but a few could not do it because of the financial crisis, aggravated by the world health crisis.

Ahmed also informed that applicants, who had got selected this year, would have to go through the same procedure next year to be able to secure a seat for themselves.

He said only women, who were selected to go without Mahram this year, would not have to apply again next year as they have their seats secured.

As per data with the Haj Committee, some 2 lakh people go from India to Saudi Arabia for Haj pilgrimage.