Saudi Arabia reopens Haj portal for Indian pilgrims after government intervention
New Delhi, April 16, 2025: In a significant development for Indian Hajj pilgrims, the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) on Tuesday announced that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has agreed to reopen the Haj (Nusuk) Portal for Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs). This will allow up to 10,000 pilgrims to proceed for Hajj 2025, based on the current availability of space in Mina.
The decision follows the Indian government’s urgent intervention after reports emerged that thousands of Indian pilgrims risked being excluded from this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. According to a press release from the Ministry of Minority Affairs, urgent instructions have been issued to the CHGOs to complete the necessary formalities without delay to secure arrangements for their respective pilgrims.
Earlier this month, it was reported that nearly 52,000 Indian pilgrims were left in limbo after the Saudi authorities cancelled several zones in Mina previously allocated to private tour operators. These zones are crucial as Mina, the tent city, is one of the key ritual sites during the five-day pilgrimage.
The Ministry said that a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims has been allotted to India by Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj season. According to the Hajj Policy for 2025, 70 per cent of this quota is managed by the Hajj Committee of India, while the remaining 30 per cent is distributed among private tour operators, including the CHGOs.
However, 26 CHGOs who were allotted the remaining quota failed to meet key deadlines set by Saudi authorities. They reportedly did not finalise contracts for essential arrangements such as Mina camps, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, and transportation, despite repeated reminders from the Indian government.
Following these lapses, Secretary of the Ministry of Minority Affairs Chandra Shekhar Kumar, accompanied by Joint Secretary CPS Bakshi, visited Jeddah last week to assess the preparations for Indian pilgrims on the ground. Their meetings with Saudi officials reportedly played a critical role in persuading the Saudi Hajj Ministry to reopen the portal.
The Indian government’s involvement also included an earlier visit by Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who travelled to Saudi Arabia from January 11 to January 14, 2025. During his visit, Rijiju signed the bilateral agreement for Hajj 2025 and attended the opening session of the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition. He also held discussions with senior Saudi officials on streamlining arrangements and ensuring the welfare of Indian pilgrims.
This latest move has come as a major relief for thousands of pilgrims whose travel plans were under threat due to administrative delays and coordination issues.
Hajj 2025 is expected to take place between June 4 and June 9, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Zil-Hajj. With the reopening of the Haj portal, officials hope the remaining CHGOs will act swiftly to secure the necessary arrangements and ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience for the affected pilgrims.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
