The Centre is encouraging online applications for the next Haj pilgrimage so that people can get an opportunity with complete transparency, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday. Maharashtra was at top place regarding online applications for Haj in 2016 with 10,960 online applications, Naqvi said. Altogether, 9,257 online applications were received from Kerala, 5,407 from Uttar Pradesh, 2,983 from Telangana, 2,426 from Jammu and Kashmir and 2,425 online applications were received from Gujarat, he said. About 36,000 Haj pilgrims also proceeded for Haj through private tour operators, he added. "The Ministry has been preparing a 10-15 minutes duration film which will provide all the necessary information to Haj pilgrims.

Source: dna October 24, 2016 10:07 UTC