MK Stalin urges PM Modi to intervene after Saudi cancels 52,000 private Hajj seats
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene after Saudi Arabia abruptly cancelled approximately 52,000 Hajj seats allocated to private tour operators. The move has triggered widespread anxiety among Indian Muslim pilgrims preparing for the upcoming pilgrimage.
In his letter, Stalin expressed deep concern over the “sudden reduction” in India’s Hajj quota for private operators, describing the development as a matter of urgent concern. He emphasized that many pilgrims, including those from Tamil Nadu, had already made full payments and were left in distress due to the uncertainty caused by the cancellation.
"I request that the matter may be taken up with the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urgently and seek an expeditious remedy,” Stalin wrote, expressing hope that PM Modi’s intervention would help restore the cancelled quota and provide reassurance to affected families.
India had signed a bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia in January 2025, finalising a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for Hajj 2025. This was split in a 70:30 ratio between State Hajj Committees and private operators—allocating 1,22,517 seats to the former and 52,507 to the latter.
However, Saudi Arabia has now reduced the private Hajj quota by nearly 80 per cent, affecting close to 52,000 Indian pilgrims. The decision reportedly stems from revised policies and stricter timelines for private tour operators, which several failed to meet despite repeated reminders.
In a partial relief, the Saudi government has agreed to India's request to reopen the Hajj Portal for Combined Hajj Group Operators (CHGOs), allowing an additional 10,000 pilgrims to register under the private category.
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K'taka govt. to take over 108 ambulance service from private control, announces Min. Dinesh Gundurao
Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced on Wednesday that the state government will take over the management of 108 ambulance services, taking them out of the hands of private agencies.
Until now, the 108 ambulance services were operated by private agencies despite being owned and funded by the government. "There were several operational problems under private management. Ambulance staff often faced delays in salary payments, and the government had to step in repeatedly to resolve such issues," Rao said.
He emphasized that the government had been bearing the entire cost of the service from fuel expenses to employee wages while the operations were outsourced to a private entity. The arrangement included a single command center for the entire state, which Rao said was inadequate for managing such a critical health service.
Highlighting the importance of the 108 service in saving lives during medical emergencies, Rao revealed that a pilot project to directly manage ambulances was successfully implemented in Chamarajanagar district. Encouraged by its success, the government is now ready to expand the model statewide.
Beginning next month, all government ambulances will be brought under the direct supervision of the health department. Within three months, the department also plans to take control of the command and control functions currently handled by private agencies. A central command center will be established in Bengaluru, along with district-level centers to ensure better coordination and faster response times.
Minister Rao also added that this transition will not only streamline operations and enhance service quality but also result in significant savings running into hundreds of crores for the state exchequer.
