<span style="color: #222222;">Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi flagged off the first batch of Haj pilgrims from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi yesterday.<br />'' <br />'' 419 Haj pilgrims including 202 women left from Delhi in the first flight.<br />'' <br />'' These Haj pilgrims are from Aligarh, Agra, Meerut, Rampur and Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh.<br />'' <br />'' Speaking on the occasion, Mr Naqvi said, for the first time a record number of two lakh Indian Muslims are going for Haj this year without any subsidy.<br />'' <br />'' He said an honest and transparent system developed by the government has ensured that even after removal of Haj subsidy, there is no unnecessary financial burden on Haj pilgrims.<br />'' <br />''A total of 2,340 Muslim women from the country will go for Haj without Mehram this year, while 1180 women had performed Haj last year without Mehram.</span><br />

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today flagged off 1st batch of Haj pilgrims at Indira Gandhi International Airport's Haj Terminal in New Delhi.<br/> <br/>In a series of tweets, Mr Naqvi said, more than 1 lakh 70 thousand Haj pilgrims will go on Haj this year from India. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also present on the occasion.

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today flagged off 1st batch of 340 Haj pilgrims from Indira Gandhi International Airport's Haj Terminal in New Delhi. <br/><br/>Extending good wishes on behalf of the Prime Minister and himself, Mr Naqvi urged Hajis to pray for peace, prosperity, harmony and brotherhood in India and the entire world. Mr Naqvi said, Haj pilgrimage is a cherished desire of every Muslim in his life time. <br/><br/>Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Haj Committee of India Chairman Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Qaiser, Minority Affairs Ministry Secretary Rakesh Garg, Haj Committee of India Member and Delhi Coordinator H B Kazmi and others were present on the occasion. <br/><br/>For Haj 2016, a total of 12,500 Haj pilgrims will be proceeding from Delhi to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by Air India's 37 charter flights. Around 8690 Haj pilgrims will be from Uttar Pradesh and rest will be from Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Haryana. <br/><br/>A total 1 lakh 20 Haj pilgrims will be facilitated from 21 points across India through Haj Committee. Apart from this, 36,000 Haj pilgrims will proceed through the private tour operators.