J&K Leaders Urge Centre to Act on 52,000 Hajj Slot Cut
The cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims by Saudi Arabia has created a sense of distress among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In response, leaders from ruling and opposition parties in the region have urged the Centre to intervene and take swift action to ease the plight of the affected pilgrims.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while expressing concern over the issue, called upon the Centre to take immediate action to resolve the matter. “We have been informed that 52,000 Hajj slots have been cancelled, which is a huge setback for our pilgrims. I urge the Centre to take immediate action to resolve this issue and ensure that the pilgrims are not put to any inconvenience,” he said.
Mehbooba Mufti, the President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also appealed to the Centre to intervene in the matter. “The cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots is a big blow to our pilgrims. I urge the Centre to take immediate action to restore the quota and ensure that our pilgrims are not put to any inconvenience,” she said.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak with Saudi Arabia to restore the quota. “I appeal to the Prime Minister to speak with Saudi Arabia and try to resolve this issue. Our pilgrims are looking forward to perform Hajj and any delay in the process will cause them immense distress,” he said.
The cancellation of Hajj slots has left thousands of pilgrims in a state of uncertainty, with many having already made arrangements and booked their tickets. The pilgrims are now left with no option but to wait and see if the Centre can intervene and restore the quota.
The Hajj pilgrimage is a significant event in the Islamic calendar, and thousands of Muslims from India and other countries make the journey to Mecca every year. The pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many Muslims, and the cancellation of Hajj slots has caused immense distress among the affected pilgrims.
The Indian government has been working closely with the Saudi authorities to resolve the issue, and efforts are underway to restore the quota. However, the pilgrims are still left with uncertainty about whether they will be able to perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year.
The cancellation of Hajj slots is not the first time that Indian pilgrims have faced difficulties in performing the pilgrimage. In the past, Indian pilgrims have faced delays and cancellations due to various reasons, including issues with visas, travel documentation, and infrastructure.
Despite the challenges, the Indian government has been working to improve the Hajj pilgrimage experience for Indian pilgrims. In recent years, the government has taken several initiatives to streamline the process, including the introduction of an online application system and the establishment of a Hajj committee to oversee the pilgrimage.
However, the cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots has raised concerns about the ability of the Indian government to ensure the smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage of Indian pilgrims. The government will need to take swift action to resolve the issue and ensure that the pilgrims are not put to any inconvenience.
In conclusion, the cancellation of 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims is a significant issue that requires immediate attention from the Centre. The leaders of Jammu and Kashmir have urged the Centre to take swift action to resolve the matter, and it is hoped that the government will take necessary steps to restore the quota and ensure that the pilgrims are able to perform the Hajj pilgrimage without any difficulty.
