Title: J&K Leaders Urge Centre to Act on 52,000 Hajj Slot Cut
In a move that has sent shockwaves across Jammu and Kashmir, Saudi Arabia has cancelled 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims. The sudden decision has left thousands of devotees in distress, and leaders from ruling and opposition parties in the state have urged the Centre to intervene and take swift action to ease the distress.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while speaking to the media, expressed his deep concern over the matter and appealed to the Centre to take immediate steps to restore the cancelled quota. He emphasized that the cancellation of Hajj slots would have a significant impact on the lives of the affected pilgrims and demanded that the Union government should speak with Saudi Arabia to resolve the issue.
Mehbooba Mufti, the chief of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also echoed similar sentiments, calling upon the Centre to intervene and take immediate action to address the crisis. “The cancellation of Hajj slots is a matter of grave concern and the Centre must take immediate action to address this issue,” she said.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak with Saudi Arabia to restore the quota. “I urge the Prime Minister to speak with Saudi Arabia and take immediate action to restore the cancelled Hajj quota,” he said.
The cancellation of Hajj slots has left thousands of devotees in a state of uncertainty, with many having already made travel arrangements and paid for their pilgrimage. The sudden decision has also raised questions about the transparency and communication of the Saudi authorities, with many feeling that they were not informed about the cancellation in a timely manner.
The Hajj pilgrimage is a sacred ritual for Muslims, and the cancellation of slots has caused widespread disappointment and distress among the devotees. The Indian government had earlier allocated 170,000 Hajj slots for this year’s pilgrimage, and the sudden cancellation of 52,000 slots has left a significant number of pilgrims without a chance to perform the pilgrimage.
The Jammu and Kashmir government, in a statement, also expressed its concern over the matter and appealed to the Centre to take immediate action to address the crisis. “The cancellation of Hajj slots is a matter of grave concern and the Centre must take immediate action to address this issue,” the statement said.
The Centre, in response to the crisis, has assured the public that it is taking all necessary steps to address the issue. “We are in touch with Saudi Arabia and are trying to resolve the issue,” said a senior government official. However, the official did not provide a specific timeline for the restoration of the cancelled quota.
The cancellation of Hajj slots is a major setback for the Indian Muslim community, which has been eagerly waiting for the pilgrimage. The Hajj pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many Muslims, and the cancellation of slots has caused widespread disappointment and distress.
In conclusion, the cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims is a major crisis that requires immediate attention and action. The Centre, along with the Jammu and Kashmir government, must take swift and decisive action to address the issue and restore the cancelled quota. The cancellation of slots has caused widespread distress among the devotees, and it is essential that the government takes immediate steps to ease the distress and ensure that the pilgrims are able to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
