J&K Leaders Urge Centre to Act on 52,000 Hajj Slot Cut
In a shocking move, Saudi Arabia has cancelled 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims, leaving thousands of devotees from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in distress. In response to this development, leaders from ruling and opposition parties in J&K have urged the Centre to take swift action to ease the distress of the affected pilgrims.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while expressing concern over the development, called upon the Centre to take immediate steps to address the issue. “We appeal to the Centre to intervene in this matter and ensure that the quota is restored,” he said.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also echoed similar sentiments, urging the Centre to take immediate action to resolve the crisis. “The Centre should intervene and speak to Saudi Arabia to restore the quota. This is a sensitive issue and needs to be handled with care,” she said.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak with Saudi Arabia to restore the quota. “The Centre should take immediate action to resolve this issue. The Prime Minister should speak with Saudi Arabia and ensure that the quota is restored,” he said.
The cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots has caused widespread distress among devotees from J&K, who were eagerly awaiting the opportunity to perform the holy pilgrimage. The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many Muslims, and the cancellation of slots has left them feeling disappointed and frustrated.
The Hajj pilgrimage is a significant event for devotees from J&K, who have been performing the pilgrimage for centuries. The cancellation of slots has not only affected the devotees but also the local economy, which relies heavily on the pilgrimage.
The cancellation of slots is also seen as a significant blow to the morale of the devotees, who have been preparing for the pilgrimage for months. Many devotees have already made elaborate preparations, including taking leave from work, selling their properties, and saving up for the trip.
The Centre’s failure to intervene in the matter has also raised questions about its handling of the issue. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, which is responsible for the Hajj pilgrimage, has been accused of being slow in responding to the crisis.
The cancellation of slots has also raised concerns about the safety and security of the pilgrims. With the cancellation of slots, many devotees are now left without a chance to perform the pilgrimage, which has raised questions about the Centre’s ability to protect the lives of the pilgrims.
The Centre’s inaction on the matter has also led to criticism from opposition parties, which have accused the government of being insensitive to the plight of the devotees. “The Centre’s failure to intervene in the matter is a clear indication of its lack of interest in the welfare of the devotees,” said a senior leader from the opposition party.
In conclusion, the cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims has caused widespread distress among devotees from J&K. The Centre’s failure to intervene in the matter has raised questions about its handling of the issue. It is imperative that the Centre takes immediate action to resolve the crisis and restore the quota. The devotees from J&K have been performing the Hajj pilgrimage for centuries, and it is the Centre’s responsibility to ensure that they are able to perform the pilgrimage this year as well.
