J&K Leaders Urge Centre to Act on 52,000 Hajj Slot Cut
The recent cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims by Saudi Arabia has sent shockwaves across the country, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. The move has left many Hajj aspirants in a state of distress, with leaders from both ruling and opposition parties in the state urging the Centre to intervene and take swift action to ease the situation.
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, was the first to react to the development, calling for immediate intervention by the Centre to resolve the issue. “We urge the Centre to take up this matter with Saudi Arabia and ensure that our Hajj aspirants are not deprived of this sacred pilgrimage,” Abdullah said in a statement.
The PDP chief, Mehbooba Mufti, also echoed Abdullah’s sentiments, urging the Centre to “intervene immediately” to resolve the issue. “The cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots will cause immense distress to the pilgrims and their families. We urge the Centre to take up this matter with Saudi Arabia and ensure that our Hajj aspirants are not deprived of this sacred pilgrimage,” Mufti said.
The National Conference President, Farooq Abdullah, also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak with Saudi Arabia to restore the quota. “I request PM Modi to take up this matter with Saudi Arabia and ensure that our Hajj aspirants are not deprived of this sacred pilgrimage,” Abdullah said.
The cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots has dealt a severe blow to the Hajj aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir, who were eagerly waiting to perform the holy pilgrimage. The state has a significant number of Hajj aspirants, with thousands of people applying for the pilgrimage every year.
The cancellation of slots has not only caused distress to the pilgrims but also to their families, who were looking forward to the pilgrimage as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The economic loss to the state is also significant, as many small-scale businesses and entrepreneurs depend on the Hajj season for their livelihood.
The decision to cancel 52,000 Hajj slots has been widely criticized, with many calling it a “disappointing” and “unfair” move. The cancellation is seen as a blow to the Indian Muslim community, which has been eagerly waiting to perform the holy pilgrimage.
The Centre has been urged to take up the matter with Saudi Arabia and ensure that the quota is restored. The authorities have been called upon to provide compensation to the affected pilgrims and to take measures to ensure that the situation does not lead to any untoward incident.
In the meantime, the Hajj aspirants from Jammu and Kashmir are left in a state of uncertainty, wondering if they will be able to perform the holy pilgrimage. The Centre’s prompt action is needed to resolve the issue and ensure that the pilgrims are able to perform the pilgrimage as planned.
