98 Indian pilgrims died during Haj, six on Day of Arafat amid intense heat: MEA
New Delhi, June 21 :
Ninety-eight Indian Haj pilgrims have died this year so far, including six on the Day of Arafat – the day before Eid al-Adha, when millions of faithful congregated at the holy site amid the intense heat, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.
Of the 98 Indians who died, while six died on the Day of Arafat, four died due to accidents, and the rest of the deaths were due to natural causes, like illness, old age and chronic illness, the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said here.
“This year so far, 175,000 Indians have gone for Haj. The core Haj period is from May 9 to July 22. So far, 98 Indians have died, on account of natural causes, like illness, natural causes, chronic illness, and old age,” he said.
Last year 187 Indians died during Haj, he informed.
“This time because of the intense heat, and especially on the Day of Arafat, we heard that many people died due to the heat wave, mostly from other countries. From India, six Indians died on the Day of Arafat,” he added.
He also informed that the Indian Haj Mission in Jeddah works on a large scale, and is equipped with a medical mission, a hospital and ambulances on standby.
“And in case of eventuality
India lodges “strong
we attend immediately and connect with their family and do whatever is necessary at the time,” he added.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage reaches its zenith on the Day of Arafat, when millions of Muslims from across the globe gather on the plains of Mount Arafat on the outskirts of Makkah.
This year it was observed on June 16.
Meanwhile, India lodged a “strong protest” with the Canadian High Commission in Delhi opposing the organisation of ‘Citizen’s Courts’ by Khalistani activists in Canada.
“We have strongly protested at the Canadian High Commission here. Such courts or gatherings are not helpful at all. We have strongly taken it up with them and asked them to take appropriate action in the matter,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in response to ANI’s question. Jaiswal emphasised India’s stance against providing political space to extremist anti-India elements and those advocating violence.
“We have been repeatedly calling upon the government of Canada to take action. Political space provided to extremist anti-India elements and those advocating violence must stop and they must take action,” Jaiswal added.
India’s protest also comes after the Canadian Parliament observed a two-minute silence on the death anniversary of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“We naturally oppose any moves giving political space to extremism and those advocating violence,” Jaiswal remarked on Canada’s parliamentary observance.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, associated with Khalistani separatism, remains a contentious issue in India-Canada relations, with India urging Canada to refrain from actions perceived as supporting separatist agendas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau briefly conversed on June 14 during the G7 Summit in Italy’s Apulia region amid strained India-Canada relations.
The interaction occurred amidst heightened tension, exacerbated by Trudeau’s accusations in September last year suggesting possible Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which India dismissed as baseless.
India has consistently highlighted its primary concern with Canada as its tolerance of pro-Khalistan groups operating freely within its borders. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra recently reiterated India’s position, emphasizing that Ottawa’s provision of political space to these anti-India elements promoting extremism and violence remains a critical issue.
India has repeatedly expressed its “serious concerns” to Canada and expects Ottawa to take decisive measures against such elements, Kwatra emphasised.
