Saudi ready to provide Aab-e-Jamjam water: Pranab

New Delhi, Mar 14: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today informed the Lok Sabha that Saudi Arabia had agreed to allow the holy water, Aab-e-Jamjam, to be taken to India in bulk and this would be distributed to the registered Haj committees.

Mr Mukherjee said the assurance was given by his Saudi counterpart during his recent visit to India. Saudi Arabia would make a one-time exemption to the ban and allow the holy water to be taken out of the country in bulk. The Minister said the luggage problem faced by the Hajis this time was due to a ''mis-match.'' Mr Mukherjee made the statement in response to a zero hour issue raised by Mr Ramjilal Suman (SP) who also wanted compensation to the Hajis who had lost their luggage.

The central Haj committee should be located in Delhi and the Haj office should be given statutory powers, he demanded.

UNI