UNI

Dubai, Jun 22: India has requested Saudi Arabia to increase the Haj Quota to an additional ten thousand from the current one lakh forty thousand.

External Affairs Minister E Ahamed said pilgrims would be given orientation and training in order to avoid stampedes that have marred the past pilgrimages.

During his visit to Riyadh, he discussed with Saudi Haj Minister Dr Fouad Al-Farsy the possibility of Indian pilgrims staying an extra day in the tent city of Mina to avoid surging crowds on the last day.

Mr Ahamed said Saudi Arabia appreciated India's efforts in making good arrangements for Haj every year. ''We have been rated as one of the best by the Saudi authorities,'' he said yesterday.

One sticky point was the issue of Indians coming from other countries with the Saudi government wanting New Delhi to take their responsibility.

''In many cases, it seems, they did not have proper accommodation resulting in chaos on the streets of Makkah and Mina,'' Arab News reported.

The Minister said the Indian government would be responsible for only those who come through the Indian Haj Committee and through the registered private tour operators.

Referring to the delay in ferrying pilgrims back to India as happened during the last Haj, the Minister said he is in talks with Air India to make adequate arrangements for the smooth flow of pilgrims both to and fro from Saudi Arabia.