Hyderabad: A day after Prime Minister Modi boasted of facilitating Muslim women's travel for Haj without 'Mahram', All India Majlise Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi said it became possible after amendments in visa norms by Saudi authorities.
"It has become the habit of the Prime Minister to claim credit for everything. If tomorrow women in Saudi Arabia are allowed to drive, he will claim credit for the same," Asaduddin Owaisi said while talking to reporters on Monday.
'Mahram' is a male relative or guardian of a woman with whom she is permanently forbidden to marry by Islam.
Modi in his 'Mann Ki Baat' speech on Sunday had said that his government had removed the restriction which allows Muslim women to perform Hajj only in the company of 'Maharam'. He had stated that injustice was done to women for decades.
Asaduddin Owaisi said that a regulation by Haj authorities of Saudi Arabia was in force for many years which allow women above the age of 45 years to perform Haj without a 'Mahram' if they travel with a group.
"Women are required to travel for Hajj with a Mahram. Proof of kinship must be submitted with the application form.
"Any woman over the age of 45 may travel without a Mahram with an organized group, provided she submits a letter of no objection from her Mahram authorizing her to travel for Hajj with the named group. This letter should be notarized", Saudi government guidelines for Haj Visa says.
Earlier, women pilgrims from India were not allowed to go to Hajj without Mahram despite the amendments in Saudi norms. After the approval of Hajj Policy 2018, women above 45 years of age were allowed to apply without Mahram.
The Modi government has also exempted women going to Haj without Mahram from the Qurrah - draw of Haj pilgrims.
India has been allocated based on population of Muslims in the country a Haj quota of around 1.70 lakh by Saudi Government. Out of them, pilgrims numbering 70% of the total quota will go through the Haj Committee of India, rest all opt for Private Tour Operators (PTOs) to travel to Makkah and perform Haj.
The Qurrah or Draw is held because of number of application received by the Haj Committee of India exceeds the allotted quota.
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