1.7 lakh Indian pilgrims for Hajj this year

Saudi Arabia has allotted a quota of 1.7 lakh pilgrims from India for Hajj pilgrimage this year even as New Delhi has made a formal request for an additional 10,000 slots.
According to the Indian consulate in Jeddah, Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed called on Bandar Bin Mohammed Al Hajjar, Minister of Hajj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesterday to discuss arrangements for this year's Hajj and to sign the Annual Bilateral Hajj Agreement.
The request for an additional quota of 10,000 has been made considering the likelihood of a large number of applicants for Hajj in India this year.

According to the consulate, the two sides also exchanged views on the arrangements made during Hajj last year.
They also discussed ways to improve arrangements being made this year.
During the meeting, Ahamed was accompanied by Hamid Ali Rao, Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia and Consul General of India, Faiz Ahmad Kidwai.
The minister also had a meeting with Rafat Badr, Chairman, South Asian Moassassa in Mecca to discuss arrangements for the annual pilgrimage.
Ahamed also reviewed hiring of accommodation for Indian pilgrims, with 25,000 units having already been hired in the Green category in Mecca.