During her two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Smriti Irani, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs and also the Minister of Women and Child Development, engaged with Indian volunteers serving Haj pilgrims and interacted with Umrah pilgrims from India in Madinah on Monday. Accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and other senior officials, Irani's visit included historical sites such as the revered Prophet's Mosque, Al Masjid Al Nabwi, the mountain of Uhud, and the Quba Mosque – the first Mosque of Islam.
Irani took to Twitter, sharing images with Indian pilgrims and emphasizing the significance of her visit to these sacred sites, courtesy of Saudi officials. The journey was aimed at understanding the arrangements necessary for the upcoming Haj pilgrimage, with the government expressing its commitment to providing facilities and services for Indian Muslims undertaking the pilgrimage, ensuring a comfortable and fulfilling experience.
The visit also involved the signing of the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 between India and Saudi Arabia. As per the agreement, India has been allocated a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for the 2024 Haj pilgrimage. Out of these, 1,40,020 seats are reserved for pilgrims proceeding through the Haj Committee of India, while 35,005 pilgrims will be allowed to travel through Haj Group Operators. The visit reinforced the warm and cordial ties between India and Saudi Arabia, with the Indian government expressing appreciation for the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's support in facilitating the delegation's visit to Madinah.
