Thousands of private Haj pilgrims denied visa by Saudi embassy

MUMBAI: Thousands of Haj pilgrims travelling to Mecca with private tour operators have been denied visas by the Saudi embassy in Delhi because their new scanning machine cannot read the data in these Indian passports. The pilgrims are in a spot as each has paid Rs 2.25 lakh to the Saudi authorities for arrangements like accommodation and food, and fees for muallims (the Saudi-appointed people to look after the pilgrims). Their passports were rejected despite containing bar codes issued by the Saudi ministry of Haj after full payment of the costs. Haj will be performed from October 2 to 6 and Haj flights have started taking off since August 27. Around 36,000 pilgrims are travelling through tour operators while 1,00,020 are going through the Haj Committee of India. Earlier, passports of around 25,000 pilgrims travelling through the Haj Committee were rejected but the issue was sorted out after committee CEO Qaisar Shamim approached foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, who raised the issue with the Saudi embassy. The visa denials can throw plans of entire families in disarray, said a release of All India Haj Umrah Tour Organisers Association. "Women pilgrims have to be accompanied by close relatives and minors and elderly, too, cannot travel alone if the visas of their relatives are not issued," explained Afzal Patel of Atlas Tours and Travels. TOI