J&K Hajj Committee Chairperson seeks PM Modi’s intervention over high Hajj pilgrimage costs
12-05-2023 : Chairperson of J&K Hajj Committee, Safina Baig, has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking intervention in the high cost of Hajj pilgrimage for the union territory this year. Earlier this year, Baig had announced that the Hajj pilgrimage would be cheaper by almost Rs 80,000, and each pilgrim would pay a maximum of Rs 3,70,000 for performing the pilgrimage. However, the Hajj Committee of India has now fixed a tentative amount of Rs 3.95 lakh to be paid by each pilgrim to perform Hajj this year, which has disappointed many pilgrims from J&K.
Baig has expressed her concerns on Twitter, urging the Prime Minister to resolve the issue and make it easier for the people of Kashmir to fulfill their religious obligations. She has also requested his intervention to ensure that the airfares for Kashmiri pilgrims are brought at par with those of other states. The high costs are making it difficult for many devotees to undertake the holy pilgrimage, and Baig believes that the Prime Minister’s intervention will go a long way in providing relief to the people and strengthening the unity of the diverse nation.
APPEAL TO HON’BLE PRIME MINISTER @narendramodi Ji
Despite the announcement of cheaper Haj rates this year, the exorbitant fares from Kashmir are causing apprehensions among the people. As the leader of our nation, we have full faith in your ability to resolve this issue & (1/4) pic.twitter.com/TEAKyz52mp
— Safina Baig (@SafinaMBaig) May 11, 2023
Baig has pointed out that the airfare difference between Srinagar and other cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai is significant, which has given rise to apprehensions among the masses in Kashmir. This year, around 10,000 people from Jammu and Kashmir are expected to perform the Haj pilgrimage next month, and Baig hopes that the Prime Minister will take necessary steps to ensure that the pilgrimage is affordable for all.
