New Delhi: In his last address to the nation in 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered confirmed seats to women seeking to go on Haj without a male guardian.
Announcing the government’s decision to do away with the lottery system for women Haj pilgrims, going on the pilgrimage with male guardian (mehram), Mr Modi said, “Usually there is a lottery system for selection of Haj pilgrims but I would like that single women pilgrims should be excluded from lottery system and given a chance as a special category.”
The decision to do away with the lottery is going to benefit about 1,300 Muslim women, virtually guaranteeing their participation in the annual pilgrimage.
Without referring to the Triple Talaq Bill passed by the Lower House last week, Mr Modi also said, “The hardship faced by Muslim mothers and sisters over triple talaq is not hidden from anyone. After years of struggle, they have found a way of freeing themselves from (the practice) of instant triple talaq.”
Mr Modi made the remarks while delivering the inaugural address at the 85th Sivagiri pilgrimage celebrations in Kerala through a video conference.
The Prime Minister also referred to the issue in his Mann Ki Baat.
Soon after Mr Modi’s address, minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tweeted: “...I assure that those, about 1,300 women, who have applied to go for Haj without mehram, will be exempted from the lottery system and allowed to proceed on Haj.”
