The State Haj
Committee has proposed to hold ‘Qurrah’ (draw of lots) for selection of Haj
pilgrims on April 17. This year there will be a decrease of 20 per cent in the
Haj quota for pilgrims proceeding through Haj Committee and private tour
operators.
Haj
Committee special officer, Prof. S.A. Shukoor, who attended the Haj Committee
of India meeting at Mumbai, said the reduction in the quota was on account of
the ongoing expansion of the ‘Mataaf’ area in the grand mosque at Makkah.
During
2013 the quota of Haj Committee after reduction was 1,21,420 and for private
tour operators, it was 14,600.
According
to a press release, Prof. Shukoor wanted the quota for pilgrims to be fixed on
the basis of 2011 census and not 2001.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/haj-qurrah-on-april-17/article5827339.ece