I am surprised to find that your Government sent a Goodwill Delegation to Saudi Arabia for Haj, 1998.

The Delegation consisted of 29 members of whom at least 10 were unknown non-entities. At an estimated expenditure exceeding Rs. 2 crores, one is left to wonder how much goodwill such a delegation generate among the people of Saudi Arabia or the Muslim community of India!

You may kindly recall that in 1978, as Foreign Minister, you had agreed with my proposal to stop such Haj Delegation. The then Prime Minister had agreed and had in my presence told the Leader of the Haj Delegation, 1978 (which had by then been issued) that such Sarkari Haj will not continue. Unfortunately in 1979 he was no longer the Prime Minister and the incoming Governments, since then, have thought it best to continue with this blatant exercise in political patronage.

At that time the Delegation consisted of 3-4 persons. Now the size has risen to 25-30. At that time, the cost of the public exchequer was a lakh or so. Now it is in crores.

A Goodwill Delegation at the time of Haj seasons no useful as every one in Saudi Arabia is too busy for a fruitful exchange of views. If the purpose is commercial, it can be well-served by deputing one VIP who should gather around him 3 or 4 eminent personalities from among the pilgrims themselves to convey our felicitations to the Custodian of the Holy Places, H.M. the King of Saudi Arabia and to partake of his 'mass' dinars.

On the other hand, the presence of such a Delegation consumes the working capacity of the Embassy of India and the C.G. of India and detracts them for paying their undivided attention to the pilgrims.

I request you that the utility of this exercise should be reassessed and no such Delegation should be deputed for Haj, 1999.