Title: J&K Leaders Urge Centre to Act on 52,000 Hajj Slot Cut
In a developing crisis, leaders from Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling and opposition parties have come together to urge the Centre to take swift action in response to Saudi Arabia’s cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims. The move has caused widespread distress among prospective pilgrims, and political leaders in the region are demanding that the Centre intervene to ease their plight.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a vocal advocate for the rights of Kashmiri pilgrims, has called for the Centre to take immediate action to address the issue. “This is a very disturbing development, and we urge the Centre to take swift action to restore the cancelled slots,” Abdullah said. “The Indian government must engage with the Saudi authorities to resolve this issue and ensure that our pilgrims are not deprived of their rights.”
Omar Abdullah’s words were echoed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, who also urged the Centre to intervene. “The Centre must take immediate action to address this issue and ensure that our pilgrims are not affected,” Mufti said. “We will not tolerate any injustice to our people, and we expect the Centre to take a strong stand on this issue.”
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, a veteran politician and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak with Saudi Arabia to restore the cancelled quota. “This is an unprecedented move, and we expect the Centre to take immediate action to resolve this issue,” Farooq Abdullah said. “We will not allow our pilgrims to be deprived of their rights, and we expect the Centre to take a strong stand on this issue.”
The cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots has caused widespread distress among prospective pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir, who had been eagerly awaiting the chance to perform the sacred pilgrimage. The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many Muslims, and the cancellation of the slots has left many feeling disappointed and disillusioned.
The issue has also raised concerns about the treatment of Indian pilgrims by Saudi Arabia, which has been criticized in the past for its handling of Indian Hajj pilgrims. In recent years, there have been reports of Indian pilgrims being subjected to poor conditions, inadequate facilities, and even mistreatment at the hands of Saudi authorities.
The cancellation of the slots has also sparked concerns about the impact on the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, which relies heavily on the Hajj pilgrimage for economic benefits. The pilgrimage is a major source of revenue for the region, and the cancellation of the slots could have severe economic implications for the region.
In the wake of the cancellation, the Centre has been under pressure to take immediate action to address the issue. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, which is responsible for the Hajj pilgrimage, has been working to resolve the issue, and officials have been in touch with Saudi authorities to try to restore the cancelled slots.
However, despite the Centre’s efforts, the issue remains unresolved, and pilgrims are growing increasingly frustrated. The cancellation of the slots has also raised questions about the Centre’s commitment to protecting the rights of Indian pilgrims, and the issue is likely to remain a major point of contention in the coming weeks.
In conclusion, the cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims is a major crisis that requires immediate attention and action from the Centre. The leaders of Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling and opposition parties have urged the Centre to take swift action to restore the cancelled slots, and it is imperative that the Centre responds to this crisis with urgency and sensitivity.
As the issue continues to unfold, it is essential that the Centre engages with Saudi Arabia to resolve the issue and ensure that Indian pilgrims are not deprived of their rights. The Centre must also work to address the concerns of prospective pilgrims, who are growing increasingly frustrated and disillusioned.
Ultimately, the cancellation of the Hajj slots is a major blow to the morale of Indian Muslims, who had been eagerly awaiting the chance to perform the sacred pilgrimage. It is imperative that the Centre takes immediate action to resolve this crisis and restore the cancelled slots, and it is hoped that a swift and satisfactory resolution can be achieved in the coming days.
News Source:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mehbooba-mufti-centre-intervene-saudi-arabia-52000-hajj-cancel-9943150/lite/
