India's Muslim community welcomes removal of VIP Hajj quota

Move is expected to open up spots for more people to make the pilgrimage to Makkah

Pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba in Makkah. AP

Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque. AP

Muslims take part in Hajj rituals at the Kaaba in Makkah. AP

Reporters fly over the Grand Mosque. AP

Hundreds of buses wait to carry pilgrims. AP

A satellite image shows pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque. SPA

Pilgrims on the first day of Tashreeq throw the three Jamarat, beginning with Jamarat al-Soghra, then al-Wusta, and then Jamrat al-Aqaba. SPA

Pilgrims on the first day of Tashreeq throw the three Jamarat, beginning with Jamarat al-Soghra, then al-Wusta, and then Jamrat al-Aqaba. SPA

Pilgrims on the first day of Tashreeq throw the three Jamarat, beginning with Jamarat al-Soghra, then al-Wusta, and then Jamrat al-Aqaba. SPA

Pilgrims on the first day of Tashreeq throw the three Jamarat, beginning with Jamarat al-Soghra, then al-Wusta, and then Jamrat al-Aqaba. SPA

Pilgrims walk to cast stones at a pillar in the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

Pilgrims walk before casting their stones. Reuters

Pilgrims cast their stones. Reuters

Pilgrims cast their stones. Reuters

Pilgrims cast their stones. Reuters

Pilgrims walk to cast their stones. Reuters

Hajj pilgrims collect pebbles for the stoning of the devil ritual in Muzdalifa, Saudi Arabia. EPA

Pilgrims collect pebbles. EPA

Pilgrims cast stones. AP

Pilgrims cast stones. AP

Pilgrims gather atop Mount Arafat during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage. AFP

Pilgrims pray as they gather at Mount Arafat. EPA

Saudi Arabia this year is allowing one million Muslims, including some 850,000 from abroad, to make the annual Hajj pilgrimage for the first time in two years. EPA

A Saudi police helicopter patrols over Namira Mosque in Arafat. AP Photo

Pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat. Reuters

Pilgrims arrive on the plains of Mount Arafat. EPA

Pilgrims climb Gebel Rahmah (Mount of Mercy) where the Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon, as people congregate on the plains of Arafat. EPA

Pilgrims gather atop Mount Arafat during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage. AFP

A Muslim woman prays atop Mount Arafat. AFP

Muslim pilgrims touch the pillar atop Mount Arafat. AFP

Pilgrims gather to pray atop Mount Arafat. AFP

Pilgrims walk towards the Namirah mosque near Mount Arafat. AFP

Muslim pilgrims pray on the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy. AP Photo

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy. Reuters

Pilgrims pray on the Mountain of Mercy. AP

Pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy. Reuters

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy. Reuters

Hajj pilgrims head to Mina for the day of Tarwiyah as temperatures hit 44ºC. SPA

Pilgrims pray at the Kaaba in Makkah's Grand Mosque on the eve of the first day of Hajj. SPA

Hajj pilgrims head to Mina for the day of Tarwiyah as temperatures hit 44ºC. SPA

Members of India's Muslim community have welcomed the government’s decision to scrap a “VIP quota” for Hajj, saying this will help open up spots for more pilgrims.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam that every able-bodied Muslims must perform at least once in their life, if they have the means. The pilgrimage to Makkah has historically been one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

About 500 seats were previously allocated by India's Hajj Committee to people in top constitutional posts each Hajj season, including the president, prime minister and ministers.

The Hajj Committee of India itself had a quota of 200 seats.

Indian Federal Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said that the government had decided to scrap the discretionary quota in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “resolve to end VIP culture” in the country.

“VIP culture was put in place with respect to Hajj during the [United Progressive Alliance] rule, under which there was a special quota allocated to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Hajj Committee and all those in top constitutional posts,” Ms Irani said.

She said that the government had formulated a new Hajj policy that would be announced soon.

Indian Muslims said scrapping the quota would give opportunities to more people to obtain seats.

Noil Khan, a school administrator described the announcement as "wonderful news".

"We just returned from Umrah and, although we got the spots easily, we can’t say the same for Hajj," he said.

"This also made no sense to give a special treatment to VIPs.”.

Syed Ahmed, a Delhi resident said it was a welcome step.

“Over the years, the population of Indian Muslims has grown, and they have become stronger financially, which has created greater demand for Hajj spots,” he told The National.

“Although the numbers are not huge it will still open up some spots for common people which is a welcome step.”

India has been plagued by a VIP culture for decades, which allowed certain people unbridled privileges due to their political, social or financial status.

The country has more than 200 million Muslims and every year, at least 150,000 from the country embark on the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

The Indian consulate in Jeddah on Monday said the governments of the two countries had signed an agreement that will enable more than 175,000 Indian Muslims to perform Hajj.

Each year, the Saudi government allocates country quotas to cap the number of pilgrims and provide them safe services.

Traditionally, these quotas allocated to India were distributed among the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Hajj Committee of India, which holds 70 per cent of the total quota, while the remaining 30 per cent is given to private operators.

The committee used a draw system to select pilgrims.

VIP places were reduced from 5,000 to 500 in 2011 after the country’s top court called it a “bad religious practice”.