Saudi Arabia raises India's Haj quota by 30,000
Osaka: In a significant step, Saudi Arabia has increased India's Haj quota from 170,000 to 200,000, paving the way for 30,000 more Indians to go for the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in the kingdom.
The issue of India's Haj quota was discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bilateral talks with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman here.
Modi, who is in Japan for the G20 Summit, discussed the deepening cooperation in trade and investment, energy security and counter-terrorism with the "invaluable strategic partner".
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said that the Crown Prince had promised Prime Minister Modi that India's Haj quota would be raised from 170,000 to 200,000 annually.
"This is important and this has been done," he said. Two lakh Indians will have the opportunity to go for Haj which will begin very shortly, Gokhale said.
The two leaders also spoke about the need for greater tourism, more flights and agreed to meet again, he said.
The Saudi Crown Prince has also invited the Prime Minister to be one of the main guests at an international conference later this year and he has accepted the invitation with pleasure, the Foreign Secretary said.
The government last year allowed women to go on Haj without 'Mehram' or male companion, which saw about 1,300 women going without any male companion. They had been exempted from the lottery system.
Last year, Saudi Arabia increased India's Haj quota by 5,000, while in 2017 it was increased by about 35,000. The Haj subsidy provided by the government was removed last year in the light of a Supreme Court order of 2012.
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Israel, UAE report they are intercepting, responding to missiles despite ceasefire claim
Tel Aviv/Abu Dhabi: Fresh missile activity has been reported despite claims of a ceasefire between Iran and its adversaries. The Israeli military said it detected missile launches from Iran and confirmed that its defence systems were actively working to intercept the threat.
“Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said in a statement.
At the same time, the United Arab Emirates also reported a missile threat. The Emirati National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Authority said air defence systems were responding.
“Air defense systems are currently responding to a missile threat. Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updates,” the agency said in a statement issued to residents.
The developments come even as reports suggest a ceasefire agreement is in place, indicating that hostilities may still be continuing despite the announced pause.
