J&K Leaders Urge Centre to Act on 52,000 Hajj Slot Cut
In a sudden and unexpected turn of events, Saudi Arabia has cancelled 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims, leaving thousands of devotees from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and other parts of the country in distress. The move has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with leaders from ruling and opposition parties in J&K urging the Centre to intervene and restore the quota.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while expressing shock and disappointment over the decision, called upon the Centre to take swift action to ease the distress caused to the pilgrims. “The cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots is a severe blow to the aspirations of thousands of devotees from Jammu and Kashmir who had been waiting eagerly to perform the sacred pilgrimage,” Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti also appealed to the Centre to intervene and restore the quota. “The cancellation of Hajj slots is a matter of grave concern and the Centre must take immediate action to resolve the issue,” Mufti said.
Another prominent leader, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak with Saudi Arabia to restore the quota. “The Hajj pilgrimage is a sacred ritual for millions of Muslims around the world, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that every effort is made to facilitate the pilgrimage,” Abdullah said.
The cancellation of Hajj slots has left many pilgrims, including senior citizens and those with serious medical conditions, in a state of uncertainty and anxiety. The Hajj pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many Muslims, and the cancellation of slots has dealt a severe blow to their aspirations.
The J&K government has also expressed its disappointment over the decision, with Chief Secretary B B Vyas stating that the state government had been working closely with the Centre to ensure that the maximum number of pilgrims from J&K were able to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
The cancellation of Hajj slots has also sparked concerns about the impact it may have on the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, which relies heavily on tourism and pilgrimage. The state government has been working hard to promote tourism and pilgrimage in the region, and the cancellation of Hajj slots may have a negative impact on these efforts.
The Centre has so far not made any official statement on the cancellation of Hajj slots, but it is expected to take a decision on the matter soon. The government has been working closely with Saudi Arabia to resolve the issue, and it is hoped that a solution will be found soon to ease the distress caused to the pilgrims.
In the meantime, Jammu and Kashmir leaders are urging the Centre to take swift action to restore the quota. The cancellation of Hajj slots is a matter of grave concern, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that every effort is made to facilitate the pilgrimage.
