Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi flagged off the first batch of Haj pilgrims from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai today. This is the first year when Haj pilgrimage is taking place without being provided any subsidy, the Minority Affairs Minister said.

Besides Maharashtra, pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh were also among those who left from Mumbai. "The Union government, in co-operation with the Saudi Arabia Haj Consulate, Haj Committee of India and other agencies concerned, completed preparations for Haj 2018 well before time to ensure a smooth pilgrimage," he said.