The Ministry of External Affairs, on Thursday, sent shockwaves among prospective Hajis by reducing the quota for private tour operators.
According to a notification by the MEA, private tour operators from the state can now take only 2,144 Hajis for the annual pilgrimage. The notification by the MEA means that 36 fewer Hajis will now be able to go for the pilgrimage, compared to the 2,170 Hajis who performed the Haj last year.
The operators claim that states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala and the Union Territory of New Delhi have seen an increase in the private operators’ quota.
The operators claim that about 15,000 people are waiting for a chance to avail the facilities of private tour operators and embark on the Haj Pilgrimage, but are unable to do so since the Ministry of External Affairs had capped the limit.
The demand for the number of seats in the state is so great that the private tour operators pay anything from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 35,000 for the seats allotted to their counterparts in various states. The huge difference of money is naturally passed on to the pilgrim.