640 perform Haj after being given special permit

Around 640 Haj volunteers from India were allowed to perform Haj rituals on Sunday on the intervention of the leader of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Haj Goodwill delegation.

The delegation’s leader, Zafar Sareshwala, had convinced India’s Mecca-based Consul General to relax the rules for a few hours enabling the volunteers to perform the rituals that are considered obligatory in the life of a Muslim. The volunteers, who were on sent on deputation to Mecca by the Indian government to assist Indian pilgrims, had signed an undertaking before leaving the country that they would refrain from doing Haj since it might interfere with their assigned roles. But, having reached Mecca, a majority of them felt they should not let go of the opportunity to perform the Haj rituals.

However, Mohammad Shahid Alam, deputy Consul General/Consul (Haj) Consul General, issued a circular on September 5 deterring them from performing the rituals in view of their official duties. The circular, a copy of which is with The Asian Age, said, “If any deputationists is found absent from his/her duty, it will be deemed as disobeying the orders of the competent authority. Proceedings of disciplinary action will be initiated against the defaulting officials including break in service, immediate repatriation to India and recovery of full amount which has been incurred on the deputation.”

Zafar Sareshwala who is in Mecca, said, “Though the deputationists had given an undertaking not to perform Haj rituals, the opportunity to perform the once in a lifetime mandatory ritual was too tempting to pass and hence approached the Haj delegation with a request to get the rules mentioned in the circular relaxed.”

Mr Sareshwala said he had spoken to Mr Alam and assured him that the deputationists would wear the ritualistic attire (ihraam) for Haj and perform the Haj without compromising their duties.