Union Minister Smriti Irani, also overseeing Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, led an Indian delegation on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
The trip held significance as it followed the signing of the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 between India and Saudi Arabia, allocating a quota of 175,025 pilgrims for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
During the visit to Madina, a historic city in Islam, Irani and the delegation explored key sites, including the revered Prophet’s Mosque and the first Mosque of Islam, Quba Mosque. They engaged with Indian volunteers aiding Haj and Umrah pilgrims, emphasizing the cultural and spiritual depth of India's engagement with Saudi Arabia.
This visit comes after the relaxation of rules in 2021 allowed non-Muslims to visit Madina up to the periphery of the Prophet’s Mosque.
Irani's trip not only marked a diplomatic milestone but also served to assess arrangements for the upcoming Haj pilgrimage, reinforcing the Indian government's commitment to providing a comfortable experience for its Muslim citizens.
The official statement acknowledged the warm ties between India and Saudi Arabia, appreciating the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's role in facilitating the delegation's visit to Madina.