Haj 2020: Indian pilgrims will not travel to Saudi Arabia, says Union Minister Naqvi

In a major development in connection to the decision of sending Haj pilgrims to Saudia Arabia amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has stated Indian pilgrims will not be allowed to attend Haj 2020.

In a statement to a news agency, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs said honouring Saudi government's decision, Indian Muslims will not go on Haj this year and, added, " Application money of more than 2.3 lakh pilgrims will be returned without cancellation deductions through direct transfer".

The decision came after Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah minister Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Benten over a phone call on Monday night and suggested not send pilgrims from India.

Saudi Arabia on Monday said it has stopped international pilgrims from making the Islamic pilgrimage, to control the coronavirus pandemic. "This decision was taken to ensure haj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective," a Saudi government statement said.