Chennai: In his letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali has said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has decided to allow only local pilgrims of different nationalities, residing within the kingdom to perform the holy pilgrimage, Hajj – 2020 in limited numbers, due to the fear of spreading coronavirus.
International Hajj has been cancelled this year and it was officially announced by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj.
“Therefore, no Indian pilgrim from the country will be permitted to proceed to perform the Hajj, either those who were selected by the Hajj Committee of India, in the Hajj draw (Qurrah) 2020 or through international flights from India,” he said.
The Prince of Arcot urged the Prime Minister to consider sending the Indian Hajj pilgrims, who have been selected successfully in 2020, and be permitted to go in 2021 to perform the holy pilgrimage, without any fresh Hajj draw next year by the Hajj Committee of India, which would be fair and just on the part of the government of India.
“The intending pilgrims were anxious to proceed to the two holy lands of Makkah and Madinah to perform Hajj and Ziarath (visit to the Holy Prophet’ Mosque), should not be deprived of their good fortune of their life time in having been selected this year 2020”, the Prince of Arcot said.