External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Sunday said the UPA government proposed to bring in reforms with regard to Haj pilgrimage by introducing a comprehensive policy before the next Haj season.
Speaking at the flagging-off ceremony of 112 Haj pilgrims from the Haj camp at Bajpe, he said the ministry, while formulating the policy, would take into consideration the report submitted by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Rehman Khan on Haj and also invite suggestions from Muslim leaders.
Through the new integrated policy, the ministry was attempting to make the system more scientific, transparent and functionally effective. All steps would be taken to remove lapses in the existing policy, he said.
He said the ministry had already initiated steps to curb expliotation of Haj pilgrims by private operators.
Krishna said the UPA government was keen on providing better hassle-free pilgrimage to those going on Haj. In this regard, the Foreign and Civil Aviation ministries have held discussions with authorities in Saudi Arabia on the safety of Indian Haj pilgrims, he said.