Concerns over transparency in the Haj 2027 Comprehensive Service Package tender have drawn sharp criticism from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and journalist Saiyed Zegham Murtaza in New Delhi, prompting a robust defence from the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
MP Singh, in a post on X on Thursday, August 27, challenged the selection of a service provider, referring to a Hindi news report from last year. He asserted, "After looting the temple of Lord Shri Ram, now Haj pilgrims will also be looted." Singh specifically questioned the Modi government's relationship with Ithraa Al Khair, claiming the company secured the contract last year, adding an extra Rs 6,000 per Haj pilgrim. He stated that the current decision would impose an additional financial burden exceeding Rs 30,000 on each pilgrim. Singh also charged that Ithraa Al Khair, an L3 bidder, received the contract despite a technical committee's recommendation, suggesting corruption.
Separately, journalist and columnist Saiyed Zegham Murtaza echoed these concerns on X the same day. Murtaza alleged that Mashareq Al Mutamayizah qualified as the L1 bidder under the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) process with a quoted rate of SAR 8,717.01 per pilgrim. However, Ithraa Al Khair reportedly secured the contract at SAR 9,777. This discrepancy, Murtaza calculated, would result in an additional burden of over Rs 300 crore on approximately 1.22 lakh Indian Haj pilgrims. He, too, questioned Ithraa Al Khair's repeated selection and cited irregularities in the tender process.
Responding to the allegations on Friday, August 28, the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) affirmed that the selection of the Service Provider Company for Haj 2027 followed a "prescribed and structured tendering process" in accordance with all applicable conditions and procurement procedures. MoMA stated that designated authorities and committees meticulously scrutinised and evaluated bids from eligible entities based on parameters set out in the tender document. The ministry emphasised that the selection relied on an overall bid evaluation under an approved methodology, free from extraneous considerations. Given the vast scale of Haj operations, competent authorities also considered factors like quality, capacity, operational preparedness, and financial aspects.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf