Major changes announced for Haj 2021, demand for lifting ITR obligation for Haj pilgrims

The commitment of “safe worship” for Haj 2021 has been announced. Departure and return centers reduced as a precautionary measure. The number of pilgrims is likely to decrease. Discussion on ITR obligation continues

Mumbai: Union Minorities and Hajj Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has recently announced Haj 2021 under the slogan “Worship with safety”. He spoke in support of the Saudi government but said that maintaining some freedom is important for Saudi Arabia.

Departure and return centers have been reduced as a precaution. Now only ten airports will be used. Earlier, there were 21 departure centers. Negotiations are underway with the Finance Ministry and other ministries and departments to finalize the income tax return obligation. There is a possibility of a positive solution.

Speaking on the launch of the Haj 2021 application form and the committee’s directive at the Haj Committee headquarters in Mumbai, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said last Saturday that the number of Haj pilgrims is likely to decrease this time.

Each pilgrim would be kept in quarantine for several hours upon reaching Saudi Arabia. The number of occupants has also been reduced. There will also be conditions for women going without Maharam (relative companion). The Saudi government guidelines on the age of pilgrims will also be followed.

Online application process started

In view of the challenges faced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the process of online application submission has started with major changes and the announcement of Haj 2021 which will continue till December 10. On the occasion, Mr. Naqvi said that the guidelines of the national and international protocols will be properly implemented given the state of the epidemic.

The last date for the submission of applications for Haj 2021 will be December 10. Applications for Hajj can be submitted online and through mobile apps. He said that the payment process for Haj 2021 will start in the month of June-July.

The procedure has been finalized only after deliberations by the Public Health, Safety and Government of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Haj Committee of India, Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Consulate General of India, Jeddah, etc.

Demand for lifting ITR obligation for Haj pilgrims

There is a lot of discomfort observed among the pilgrims to file income tax returns before the Haj. Several major religious and social organizations in the country have called for a review of this obligation.

President of Sultan Al-Hind Welfare Association in Ajmer, Rajasthan, and Gaddi Nashin SF Hasan Chisti of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Dargah has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the abolition of the obligation of filing income tax returns for Haj pilgrims.

Chishti has informed Mr. Narendra Modi that the central government’s directive on filing ITR for Haj will deprive many pilgrims of Haj. Therefore, the Centre should allow pilgrims to go on Haj without filing returns because most of the pilgrims are illiterate and come from poor family backgrounds. They go on Haj with their hard-earned money.

He requested Mr. Modi to issue a directive for the complete removal of the return filing obligation for Haj pilgrims. He said that many pilgrims of Hajj would not be able to file returns in this situation.

Other Haj requirements

Minister of Minority Affairs and Hajj, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has informed that women going without Maharam (relative companion) will be allowed to leave only after the condition laid down by the Saudi Arabian government. However, a registration fee of Rs 300 will not be charged. At the same time, last year’s applications will not be accepted. It has been decided to accept only fresh applications.

Every pilgrim must undergo a covid-19 vaccination and a covid negative test 72 hours in advance. He informed that now the departure will be from 10 places only instead of 21.

The departure centers include Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kochi, Guwahati, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Srinagar. Mumbai, Goa, Daman Dev, Delhi to Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Western UP, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh will travel while pilgrims from Ahmedabad to Gujarat, Kochi to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Bangalore to Karnataka, Hyderabad to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

[Hams Live]