Just under 160,000 Indian pilgrims are slated to perform Haj in 2008. The quota for Indian Haj pilgrims ahs been set at 157,000, according to Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, the Indian Consul General in Jeddah. Sayeed made the announcement in a press conference he held at his residence in Jeddah on Wednesday. He added that an agreement had been signed between Indian State Minister for External Affairs E. Ahmed, and Saudi Minister for Haj Affairs Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy for the upcoming Haj season. The state minister was on a visit to sign the agreement. He assured in the press conference that Indian pilgrims will be given all the facilities they require, as they had been in earlier seasons. M. O. H. Farooq, the Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was also present on the occasion. Sayeed said the quota for Indian pilgrims this year stands at 157,000. “However, the minister has asked the Saudi government to increase the quota of Haj pilgrims,” he said, “and they are hopeful that it would be increased by 15,000.” He added that 110,000 pilgrims will be coming under the Indian Haj Committee, while private tour operators will be bringing in the remaining 47,000. __
