The first batch of 443 Haj pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia on Monday. Union Minister for Minority Affairs K Rehman Khan, Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to India Saud Mohammed Al-Sati and Chairman of Delhi Haj Committee Parvez Mian were present to see off the first batch at IGI Airport.
The batch left for Medina at 2.20 pm. The second batch of 447 pilgrims departed for Medina by another flight at 11 pm. The last flight will take off on September 27. Around 1,36,020 Hajis are expected to go for Haj after Saudi Arabia slashed by 20 per cent quota for all foreign pilgrims, including those from the sub-continent.