MARGAO
With the Haj pilgrimage evoking poor response this time round, the government has extended the time-frame for submission of forms by another month till January 10, 2021.
The cost of the pilgrimage has also been brought down to Rs 2.29 lakh from the earlier rate of Rs 3.75 lakh after Union Minister for Minorities Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had discussions with Saudi government.
Addressing the media, Goa Haj Committee Chairman Sheikh Jina said the government has extended the submission of forms for the Goa Hajis by January 10 next year given that only 35 forms were received from the pilgrims. “Goa has been allocated a quota of 200 Hajis to go to Mecca. However, the Committee has received only 35 forms so far”, he said.
Blaming some Vasco-based Congress and NCP leaders for misguiding the Muslim community over the embarkation point, Jina said the total embarkation points have been reduced to 11 this time round as the Saudi Arabia government has reduced the number of pilgrims this time because of Covid pandemic.
“Goan Hajis were being given Mumbai as the embarkation point this time because of the prevailing situation. But, it is sad to note that of the total quota of 200 allocated to Goa, only 35 persons have submitted their forms. We could have made a case for Dabolim as an embarkation point at least next year if there was response”, he said, while making an appeal to the Muslim brethren to avail the facility and submit their Haj pilgrimage forms by January 10, 2021.
