Indian Minister Azad’s Demeanor Energizes Haj Mission’s Work

Mina – India’s Minister of Health & Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad visited several camps and maktabs (offices of mutawwifs) of Indian pilgrims in Mina and interacted with pilgrims.

The minister’s dynamic demeanor in interacting with pilgrims and earnestly inquiring about their conditions and welfare had an instant effect on the officials of India’s Haj mission in discharging their duties, a senior diplomat told Saudi Gazette. “The minister always emphasized the point that ensuring the pilgrims’ welfare is of paramount importance,” he said.

When he went out touring the pilgrims’ camps, Azad found a South Asian pilgrim who was in a desperate condition after losing his way. The minister consoled the pilgrim. The minister then directed the volunteers to guide the elderly pilgrim to his tent. During the tour, Azad was accompanied by Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, and Haj Consul Sheikh Muhammad Noor Rahman.

Kidwai told Saudi Gazette that Azad was always with them to guide and give necessary directions. “Being the health minister, he showed keen interest in the overall health condition of pilgrims and asked our suggestions to further improve the health services. The minister promised us that he will raise these suggestions with the government of India,” he said.

Azad leads the two-member goodwill delegation, of which the other member is Rao. He attended Wednesday the annual royal reception for Muslim leaders and heads of Haj delegations hosted, on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, by Crown Prince Salman at the Mina Palace. The minister also met Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar. Azad and his wife visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah on Thursday and will leave for India on Friday.

Kidwai said this year’s Haj operation was the best ever carried out by the mission. “The low number of pilgrims has enabled us to provide excellent services and facilities to the pilgrims. All aspects of Haj operation, including crowd management, transportation and accommodation, were very much smooth and peaceful,” he said. Echoing the same view, Haj Consul Rahman told Saudi Gazette that this year’s Haj operation was extremely successful. “This was the best ever Haj as far as our pilgrims and the Haj mission are concerned. All our arrangements were excellent and the kind of hard work done by our mission members has yielded very good results,” he said, adding that there was a 90 percent fall in the number of complaints comparing to previous years.

Unlike last year, there were no unruly incidents reported at Mashair as all Indian government pilgrims could use the train facility smoothly and comfortably. And for the first time, all pilgrims managed to reach their camps in Arafat by 9 a.m. on the Arafat Day, he said. According to Rahman, there were some complaints due to the inefficient management of affairs by some maktabs, which were not up to the mark on Tuesday. “But, we managed to address these problems and, thanks to God, we hit the mark of 100 percent in our service to the pilgrims by Wednesday,” he said. Rahman said as of Wednesday, 75 Indian pilgrims died, including four in Arafat, two in Muzdalifah and seven in Mina.

At present, there are 93 pilgrims admitted to Saudi hospitals and the Indian mission hospitals in Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Aziziyah, he added.