Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Naqvi on Monday said that Muslims’ Hajj 2021 is likely to take place by June-July 2021 but the final decision will be depending upon national and international COVID-19 guidelines and standards. Chairing high-level meeting to decide significant factors for Hajj 2021, Naqvi said that a conclusive decision on Haj-2021 will be taken after the Saudi Arabian government's final call on the pilgrimage and the national as well as international Covid-19 protocols will have to be kept in mind to ensure the well-being of the pilgrims.

The entire Haj process might record a significant change in the light of the protocols, including those related to the accommodation, transport, health and other amenities both in India and Saudi Arabia, Naqvi added. Also, the health and well-being of the pilgrims is of topmost priority for the government in the wake of the corona virus pandemic. The Indian agencies will make sure the necessary arrangements and facilities in this matter and the government, as well as the Haj committee, have initiated the preparations to make certain Good health and well-being of the pilgrims, the minister added.

It is  notable, due to a 100-per cent digitization setup of the Haj process in India, Rs 2,100 crore have been returned through the direct bank transfer (DBT) mode, without any deduction, to 1,23,000 people after the cancellation of Haj 2020 because of the pandemic. The Saudi Arabian government has also returned about Rs. 100 crore for transportation, Naqvi added.

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