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Saudi Arabian News Updates |
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18 March 2009 JEDDAH: Minister of State for
External Affairs E. Ahamed yesterday called on the
Saudi government to exempt Indians intending to
perform Haj 2009 from having international passports.
The Kingdom recently ruled that only those having
valid international passports would be allowed into
the country for the pilgrimage. The government said
the step was taken for security measures.
Until last year, pilgrims from many countries,
including India, were allowed into the Kingdom on a
passport of limited validity. In India, these
passports are known as “pilgrim passes” and are issued
without going through the cumbersome and
time-consuming bureaucratic process of acquiring an
international passport.
In his meeting with Deputy Haj Minister Hatem Qadi
here yesterday, Ahamed sought to postpone for Indian
pilgrims the application of this rule by one year. “I
explained to the Saudi authorities the difficulties
our pilgrims face in acquiring international
passports. Most of our pilgrims are from rural areas
and it is very difficult for them to acquire
international passports at such short notice.”
Speaking to Arab News, Ahamed said India would
ensure that all pilgrims coming for Haj 2010 had
international passports. “We are only asking for a
one-year waiver because it is practically impossible
for those who have applied for Haj this year to get
international passports in time,” he said.
The minister said the Saudi deputy Haj minister had
promised to look into Indian government’s request. “It
will be actively considered,” Ahamed quoted the deputy
Haj minister as saying.
Other countries too have requested Saudi Arabia to
relax the international passport ruling for pilgrims.
“However, coming from India, the request will
definitely be carefully looked at,” said Ahamed. “I
have come here in person just to make this request. We
have excellent ties with the Kingdom and I am very
hopeful Saudis will understand our situation.”
A series of delegations comprising top Indian
Muslim religious leaders have met officials at the
Saudi missions in New Delhi and Mumbai making a
similar request.
If the Saudi government does not agree to the
waiver, then the Indian Haj Committee chief Iqbal
Ahmad Saradgi said he would request his government to
simplify the procedure for issuing international
passports.
“As everybody knows, the procedure for getting a
normal passport is very time-consuming and complex; it
could cause great hardship to a large number of
pilgrims, especially those coming from rural areas,”
said Saradgi. |
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