Rs10,000 airfare hike for Haj pilgrims sparks protest

Nagpur: A sudden sharp increase of Rs10,000 in airfare per pilgrim for this year's Haj pilgrimage has triggered strong resentment among applicants, with Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's Nagpur unit staging a protest against the decision.The Haj flights have already commenced from April 24, and many pilgrims have reached the holy city of Mecca. The remaining batches include many family members who were staggered on later flights. In some cases, these pilgrims are unable to bear the extra amount as their earning members have reached Mecca.As of April 28, the Haj Committee of India states that around 1.75 lakh pilgrims from across the country are undertaking the Haj this year. Of these, nearly 50% have already reached Mecca via Medina.However, the additional airfare charge has drawn criticism. Jamiat Ulema District Nagpur general secretary Atique Qureshi termed the hike "unjustified and condemnable." He pointed out that airfare agreements between the Haj Committee and airlines are usually finalised 6-7 months in advance, making the sudden increase inappropriate.Registering their protest, a delegation of Jamiat Ulema Nagpur visited the Divisional Commissioner's office and submitted their objections to Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Khol. The delegation included Hafiz Masood, Haji Mohammad Shoaib Rana, Haji Mohammad Sameer, Haji Mohammad Zahid, and Shahbaz Akhtar, among others.Qureshi further highlighted that many pilgrims are accompanied by four to five family members, and the additional Rs10,000 per person has significantly increased the overall financial burden. He also said that several pilgrims are currently abroad, leaving families back home struggling to arrange the extra payment at short notice.The organisation has urged the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Haj Committee of India to reconsider the decision and provide immediate relief to pilgrims.
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