By TCN News,
Thrissur: Two thousand more applicants may get the opportunity to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year from Kerala. Kerala, with the most number of applicants, is expected to get an additional quota of 2000 as the Saudi government allows 15,000 more applicants to perform the Hajj from India. Those in the waiting list of the state Hajj Committee may be selected to the list.
The central Hajj Committee had reportedly asked the government of Saudi Arabia to increase the country’s Hajj quota to allow 45,000 more to perform the holy pilgrimage. A Aboobaker and Hasan Ahmed, vice-chairmen of the central Hajj Committee, had visited the Saudi Minister in charge of Hajj Affairs on the matter. Now it has been reportedly assured that India would get an additional quota of 15,000. And when the quota is divided proportional to the number of applicants from each state, Kerala is expected to get a quota of 2000.
A total of 6909 persons have been selected for Hajj in the state Hajj quota from Kerala. This may increase to 8909 by the additional quota. Kerala gets more quote reportedly because additional needed not be given to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh where all applicants have been selected. However, still, more than 30,000 applicants cannot perform the Hajj from Kerala.