Saudi Arabia to launch app for Mecca pilgrims amid virus
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia on Monday released new details on how it plans to gradually allow Muslims back to Islam's holiest site in Mecca to perform the smaller, year-round pilgrimage, which has been suspended for the past seven months due to the coronavirus.
Hajj Minister Muhammad Benten said the kingdom will launch an online application that allows citizens, residents of Saudi Arabia and visitors to apply and reserve a specific time and date in which they can perform the pilgrimage, known as umrah, to avoid crowding and maintain social-distancing guidelines.
The minister, who spoke during a virtual seminar, did not say when the pilgrimage would be permitted to resume nor how many people would be allowed to perform it at the same time.
The kingdom held a dramatically downsized, symbolic hajj pilgrimage in July due to concerns that it could easily have become a global super-spreader event for the virus. Pilgrims were selected after applying through an online portal and all were residents or citizens of Saudi Arabia. Rather than the more than 2 million pilgrims the kingdom hosts for the annual event, as little as 1,000 took part after being tested for the virus and quarantined.
Saudi Arabia on Monday began easing some restrictions on international flights for the first time in six months.
The kingdom allowed Gulf Arab nationals and foreign residents of Saudi Arabia abroad to enter the country, provided they are not infected with the coronavirus. The kingdom also allowed for some residents of Saudi Arabia, such as Saudi students with scholarships abroad and foreign embassy staff, to exit and enter the kingdom.
Despite taking early and sweeping measures to contain the virus, Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 330,000 cases, including more than 4,500 deaths.
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Amit Shah hails Yediyurappa as leader who created a new path
Chitradurga: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the five decades of public life and political struggle of former Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa serve as an inspiration for the younger generation.
Speaking at the ‘BSY Abhimanotsava’ held to honour Yediyurappa, Shah lauded his journey from a humble background to becoming one of Karnataka’s most influential political leaders.
During the event, Shah released two books titled ‘Kendavare-Kamala Aralida Kathe’ and ‘Sadana Shikari-Yediyurappanavara Gudugina Nudigalu’.
Shah said there are leaders who simply walk on existing roads and leaders who create new paths for others to follow, and described Yediyurappa as a leader who has shown a new direction.
“He came from an ordinary family. His willpower, the values of the Sangh and his patriotism guided him throughout his life,” Shah said.
He recalled that Yediyurappa travelled to villages on a bicycle when buses were unavailable and worked tirelessly to strengthen the BJP at the grassroots level.
Shah said Yediyurappa had walked thousands of kilometres and led several struggles in support of farmers, which earned him the reputation of being a farmer leader. He added that Yediyurappa had even undergone imprisonment during these movements.
Referring to political developments in West Bengal, Shah said the BJP Chief Minister took oath there on the same day that Karnataka was celebrating Yediyurappa’s 50 years in public life. He described it as the beginning of a new chapter in the land associated with Swami Vivekananda and Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
At the programme, former minister C. T. Ravi presented details of Yediyurappa’s 50 years of public service. Yediyurappa was felicitated at the event.
Also present were BJP national general secretary (organisation) B. L. Santhosh, several dignitaries and seers.
