Hajj injustice with kashmirie plz read and share Despite selection, farehike renders Hajj unaffordable for many JK Govt Fails To Convince Delhi On Exorbitant Rates For Repeat Pilgrimage M HYDERI Srinagar, July 25: Her long cherished dream to perform Hajj may remain a dream as this 60-year-old woman won’t be able to go for the pilgrimage despite her selection. Reason: Her husband, who was to accompany her as Mehram, a compulsory companion, is being charged exorbitant rate for his repeat pilgrimage. The aspiring Hajjis from JK who are going for repeat pilgrimage as companion/Mehram are beingcharged the highest airfare, almost double to what aspirants from other Indian states have to pay. As against the subsidy for the first-time Hajjis who are being charged Rs 28000 as airfare, the ‘repeat Hajjis’ from Jammu and Kashmir will have to pay Rs 1,54,000 for the travel while those from most other states are being charged around Rs 70,000.The JK pilgrims have already deposited the first installment. But in the notification published on July 12 for the payment of second installment, the aspirants got a shocker on finding that only JK pilgrims were being charged highest for the repeat pilgrimage. While the first-time pilgrims will have to pay around Rs 1,50,000 for the pilgrimage, the repeaters from JK will have to pay over Rs 3,00,000. This has put the repeat aspirants in a fix as they find the package unduly costly. “After years of hard work, we had managed saving Rs 3,00,000 for our pilgrimage. But from where will I get another Rs 1,50,000?” argued Abu Saleem, regretting that the couple was left with no options but to give up the pilgrimage plan. A woman cannot go to Hajj pilgrimage alone unless accompanied by Mehram, a sort of Shariat-definedcompanion, which includes husband, son, brother and father. Given the circular of Hajj Committee of India dated 10-7-2013 vide number HC-Accts (21)/2013/1090, only the JK pilgrims are being charged the highest airfare. For instance, the pilgrims from Gujarat are being charged Rs 57,942, while those from Varanasi will have to pay Rs 71,442. The pilgrims from New Delhi will have to pay Rs 62,808, much less than half of what Jammu and Kashmir pilgrims will have to pay. Admitting that JK pilgrims were being charged exorbitantly, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shailendra Kumar on July 12 had suggested some solutions to the state government. Subsequently, the government claimed that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister for Hajj and Auqaf Pirzada Muhammad Sayed were “in constant touch with the Govt of India.” But sources said there has been no breakthrough. The JK aspirants have already paid Rs 76,000. The remaining amount, as per the notification, has to be paid by July 27. But state government has failed to extend the deadline. The Chief Executive of the State Hajj Committee, Fayaz Ahmed, said that breakthrough was expected. To a question, he said: “Government is trying to get the deadline extended.” On July 14, the state government took “strong exception to the exorbitant airfares for repeat pilgrims flying from Srinagar in comparison with Delhi or other embarkation points as prescribed by the Hajj Committee of India.” But amid the uncertainty – fast reaching deadline for deposition of remaining fare and government silence – fate of many Hajj aspirants is at stake, much like the 60-year-old woman who may not be able to realize her long cherished dream.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 22:15:52 +0000
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