'80% cut in India’s private Hajj quota alarming’: Mehbooba Mufti urges MEA to intervene

Mehbooba Mufti says Saudi Arabia has cut India's private Hajj quota by 80%

Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehbooba Mufti, has accused Saudi Arabia of cutting India’s private Hajj pilgrim quota by 80%.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister has urged the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to intervene promptly and raise the issue with the Saudi government. Mufti called the decision sudden and troubling, stating that it has caused significant distress among pilgrims and travel operators.

“Disturbing news emerging from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that 80% of India’s private Hajj quota has been cut abruptly,” Mufti said in a post on X on Sunday, April 13.

Disturbing news emerging from Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that 80% of Indias private Haj quota has been cut abruptly. This sudden decision is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators across the country.Urge the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately
Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 13, 2025

“This sudden decision is causing immense distress for pilgrims and tour operators across the country,” she said and urged “Ministry of External Affairs to immediately intervene by taking up this matter with the Saudi government to seek a resolution.”

Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, two of the holiest cities in Islam, in Saudi Arabia. It happens at a specific time every year and ends with the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha.

This year, Hajj will take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025, depending on the moon sighting that marks the start of Zil-Hajj, the 12th month in the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims could start traveling to Saudi Arabia as early as the end of April.

Indian pilgrims can go for Hajj either through the Hajj Committee of India (HCoI), a government agency, or through Private Tour Operators (PTOs), also known as Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs).

According to a report from Mint based on government data, about 140,000 Indians went on Hajj in 2024.

In January 2025, India signed a Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia, securing a quota of 175,025 pilgrims for 2025. The agreement was signed by Kiren Rijiju, India’s Union Minister of Minority Affairs, and Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Saudi Arabia's Minister for Hajj and Umrah, in Jeddah.

"Hajj Agreement 2025 signed with Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister for Hajj and Umrah of Kindom of Saudi Arabia. Finalized a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India for Hajj 2025. We are committed to providing the best possible services to all our Haj pilgrims," Rijiju said in a post on X in January.

Saudi Arabia has put several crowd control measures in place for this year’s Hajj. The Kingdom has imposed new travel restrictions, stopping the issuance of certain visas for people from 14 countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, according to reports.

However, this suspension does not affect Indian pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia exclusively for Hajj with valid Hajj visas. The suspension mainly targets other visa types to prevent unauthorized individuals from performing Hajj without proper registration and to manage crowd control.