Naqvi discusses sea route for Haj pilgrims with Saudi envoy

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday discussed the option of sending Haj pilgrims from India through the sea route with Saudi Arabian Ambassador Mohammed Alsati, who called on him at his office.

Naqvi said that various issues related to the ongoing Haj 2017 were discussed in an about 45-minute meeting. The issue of reviving the option of sending Haj pilgrims by the sea route was also discussed.

Naqvi said talks on sending Haj pilgrims through the sea route are already on with the Saudi Arabian government and the response is very positive.

He said that a meeting in this regard would be held between the Minority Affairs Ministry and the Union Shipping Ministry under the chairmanship of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at New Delhi on August 28.

The Minister said that the new Haj policy for 2018 would be unveiled this month with a focus on providing world class facilities to Haj pilgrims.

The practice of ferrying Haj pilgrims between Mumbai and Jeddah by ship was discontinued in 1995.

--IANS

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