VASCO
In a major setback to the Muslim community in and around the State, Dabolim airport will no longer be an embarkation point for Haj 2021.
This was stated by Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi while announcing Haj 2021 with significant changes keeping in view the pandemic.
While announcing Haj 2021 at Haj House, Mumbai on November 7, Naqvi said national-international Protocol Guidelines due to the pandemic will be implemented and followed strictly during Haj 2021. The last date of applying for Haj 2021 is December 10 and people can apply online, offline and through Haj Mobile App.
Keeping in view the pandemic position and feedback received from Air India and other agencies, Naqvi said embarkation points for Haj 2021 have been reduced to 10.
Earlier, there were 21 Haj embarkation points across the country. For Haj 2021, the 10 embarkation points will be Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Cochin, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Srinagar.
The Mumbai embarkation point will now cover Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Earlier, Muslims from Goa and neighbouring areas of Belagavi and Karwar in Karnataka and Sawantwadi and Kolhapur in Maharashtra would leave from the Dabolim airport for their Haj pilgrimage.
Speaking further, Naqvi said the Haj 2021 is scheduled for June-July 2021, and the entire Haj process is being held according to necessary guidelines issued by the Saudi Arabia Government and the Government of India given the pandemic to ensure the health of the people in India and Saudi Arabia.
The Haj 2021 process has planned after deliberations among Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Haj Committee of India, Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and India’s Consul General in Jeddah and other agencies keeping in view all aspects of the pandemic challenges.
Each pilgrim will have to undergo Corona test 72 hours before Haj journey as per prevailing international air travel protocol. Each pilgrim will have to submit a PCR test certificate issued by an approved laboratory with a negative result before journeying to Saudi Arabia.
