The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Several Kashmiri Hajj pilgrims who embarked on the holy journey of Hajj from Srinagar on May 16, 2024, expressed strong resentment over poor arrangements at Mecca. The aggrieved pilgrims alleged that the group made all-out efforts in every possible way and moved from pillar to post to get their due complaints resolved but all in vain.

Speaking to the local news agency KNS, Syed Shafaq (PP No. S9423449) and Shafiq Hussain (PP No. S4842333) said, "We pilgrims of batch dated 16-05-2024 consisting 322 pilgrims were initially prepared in the Haj training conducted at Srinagar Haj House to be taken to Madina Munawara first from Srinagar, however, on the departure, we were surprisingly given boarding cards showing arrival at Jedda and were then taken to Makkah."

The pilgrims said after spending a week in Makkah, they requested to be taken to Madina Munawara but the Maktab (concerned agency responsible for managing and facilitating the group on behalf of the Saudi Government) denied the same on the pretext that the group does not belong to their Maktab having ID No. 276 and actually belong to Maktab No. 173.

The group was informed that this had happened due to an error that was taking place at State Haj Committee Srinagar, responsible for the assignment of Maktabs.

They said that after conducting a series of meetings with officials of Indian Haj Office Makkah, the matter was resolved after several days of strenuous efforts and the batch of pilgrims was handed over to new Maktab No. 173 who took the entire group of pilgrims to Madina Munawara on the evening of May 28, 2024, barring 19 pilgrims whose names didn’t figure in the list of Maktab No. 173 for unknown reasons.

The 19 pilgrims (11 in building No. 91 and 8 in building No. 134) were not taken to Madina Munawara for none of their fault, who are currently passing through a traumatic situation by being left here at Makkah high and dry, they said.

They added that even the Khudams concerned failed to do anything in this regard, who also left for Madina with the group and abandoned them as helpless and mute spectators. "We made all-out efforts in every possible way and went from pillar to post to get along with the group to Madina but all in vain. No one came to our help," they added.

Further, big promises made by Hajj Committee members at Srinagar that very good arrangements shall be in place for all pilgrims this year proved to be a lie, as per the pilgrims. "However, the reality on the ground was contrary i.e., five persons bundled in an in-capacious room with small washrooms in Mecca. The accommodation is with poor Wi-Fi connectivity and sans basic facilities like washing machines etc," they continued.

Expressing disappointment over poor and inadequate arrangements, the pilgrims said this is a pathetic situation they are presently put in. “It indicates gross mismanagement right from leaving from Srinagar where at the eleventh hour, we were informed to be going to Jedda instead of Mecca and faced a lot of inconvenience and mental agony in one way or the other till date.”

Speaking over the phone, they said that at this time (11 am Saudi time), they are at the Indian Hajj Office in Mecca to find out some resolution to their woes but no firm and positive response has been given by Indian officials, who also raise their hands in the matter with the pretext that this is the problem at the Maktab-276 end and they are unable to help us in this matter.

"We are currently disturbed and distressed. 19 pilgrims feel to have been left at the mercy of Allah," they added.

Executive Officer Haj House Bemina, Dr Shujaat Qureshi, said that a minor issue had arisen with one of the Maktabs, affecting 18 pilgrims. He assured that he was personally handling the matter and would resolve it within the next 24 hours.

SRINAGAR — The Haj Committee on Tuesday informed all selected Haj pilgrims to deposit the Haj arrangement dues viz transport, container charges, services of home-guard volunteers, air cargo charges, service providers and other handling charges to be incurred by J&K Haj Committee through J&K Bank in account number 1206040500005039.

The pay-in slip can also be downloaded from www.jkshc.org. The payment can also be made using J&K Bank’s mobile application ‘MPay’.

The concerned pilgrims are required to deposit the receipt (pay-in-slips) of the amount at the office of respective Deputy Commissioners or Haj House Srinagar at the time of collection of passports and other travel documents.

Pilgrims who do not want to avail of boarding and lodging facilities at Haj House Srinagar shall pay Rs. 1000/- per pilgrim only. Pilgrims belonging to Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh who want to avail of the boarding and lodging facility at Haj House Srinagar shall have to pay an additional amount of Rs. 500 per night.

Pilgrims of Ladakh, other states and UT’s travelling from Srinagar embarkation point shall have to deposit Rs. 550 per pilgrim only. Pilgrims travelling from Delhi, Mumbai or other embarkation point shall have to pay Rs. 300 only per pilgrim as administrative charges.

BUDGAM — The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Tuesday received the first batch of 316 Hajj pilgrims at Srinagar International Airport on their return from Saudi Arabia.

The Div Com was accompanied by DIG Central Kashmir, Sujit Kumar; Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Akshay Labroo; SSP Budgam Al-Tahir Gillani; ADDC, Dr Akramullah Tak; Executive Officer J&K Hajj Committee, Dr Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, Hajj authorities and others.

On their arrival, Div Com welcomed and greeted pilgrims on performing Hajj and for their successful culmination of the holy journey. During interaction with pilgrims, the Div Com enquired about arrangements made for their smooth and peaceful pilgrimage.

He also took stock of arrangements for the smooth arrival of pilgrims and instructed the concerned to ensure the comfortable and hassle-free movement of pilgrims towards their respective places.

On the occasion, pilgrims expressed their gratitude to the LG administration for making elaborative arrangements for the smooth pilgrimage.

SRINAGAR — All the selected pilgrims of Hajj 2023, who belong to Kashmir division except Srinagar, are hereby informed that they can collect their passports and other material from their respective Deputy Commissioner's office from June 3, 2023 during working hours on production of State Haj Dues Payment Slip (J&K Bank slip) and passport receipt.

Further, the pilgrims of district Srinagar shall collect their passports and other material from Haj House Bemina Srinagar from June 3, 2023 to June 5, 2023 during working hours on production of the above-mentioned documents.

SRINAGAR — Ahead of the Hajj 2023 pilgrimage, the authorities have once again resorted to the unexpected hike this year too, leaving the pilgrims from Jammu & Kashmir disappointed while the Jammu & Kashmir Hajj Committee (JKHC) stated that the matter will be taken up with the concerned authorities to ensure that the amount for the pilgrimage for the Kashmiri Hajj aspirants will at par with those of other states.

According to the news agency KNO, the pilgrimage amount has been increased this year too as according to the document shared by the JKHC Chairperson, Safina Beigh, the amount has been hiked by Rs 10,000 compared to last year, which is Rs 50,000 to Rs 91,000 more than other states.

However, Safina Beigh said that the rates have always remained high for the Hajj aspirants in Jammu & Kashmir, but in a recent meeting, she had raised the issue with the concerned authorities and she was assured the rates will not be increased.

However, despite assurances, the rates have been increased this year too, she said, adding that she will take up the matter with the concerned officials and ministry again and will see if there is any possibility of a refund.

In her tweet, she appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the issue. “Despite the announcement of cheaper Haj rates this year, the exorbitant fares from Kashmir are causing apprehensions among the people. As the leader of our nation, we have full faith in your ability to resolve this issue and make it easier for the people of Kashmir to fulfill their religious obligations. We request your intervention regarding the high airfares for Kashmiri pilgrims in comparison to the rest of the Indian states and take necessary steps to ensure that the airfares for Kashmiri pilgrims are brought at par with those of other states. High costs are making it difficult for many devotees to undertake the holy pilgrimage. Your intervention will go a long way in providing relief to the people and strengthening the unity of our diverse nation,” she tweeted.

“Pertinently, the airfare difference between Bengaluru & Srinagar is ₹91K, Delhi & Srinagar is ₹50K, Hyderabad & Srinagar is ₹90K, Mumbai & Srinagar is ₹90K. This clearly gives rise to apprehensions among masses in Kashmir that need to be tackled immediately,” Beigh tweeted.

Moreover, Member Haj Committee of India (HCoI), Er Aijaz Hussain said that there are certain reasons behind the hike in the pilgrimage amount this year, adding that the dollar rates have increased against INR while the Go Airlines have stopped operations and the majority of the airlines don’t participate in the tenders for Kashmir.

He said that these are among the reasons why the pilgrimage amount has been increased this year.

SRINAGAR — Haj Committee of India on Wednesday extended the last date for remittance of advance Haj amount of Rs 81,800 by provisionally selected pilgrims up to April 12, 2023.

In this regard, J&K Haj Committee has issued a notification wherein the pilgrims of Kashmir Division have been advised to deposit hard copies of the Haj application form along with declaration, medical screening and fitness certificate, original machine-readable passport, pay-in-slip, one photograph with white background at Haj House Bemina, Srinagar by or before April 14, 2023.

However, the provisionally selected pilgrims of Jammu Division shall deposit the aforesaid documents in their respective Deputy Commissioners’ offices by or before April 12, 2023 so as to reach Haj Committee by or before April 14, 2023.

SRINAGAR — Chairperson of District Development Council Baramulla Safina Baig was on Thursday elected as the head of the Jammu & Kashmir Haj Committee after her name was proposed and seconded by two other members of the panel who are affiliated with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).

Sources told the news agency KNO that Safina Baig was elected as chairman of the Haj Committee after her name was proposed by former MP Choudhary Talib Hussain. “Her name was seconded by Muhammad Rafiq Chashti (district president BJP Poonch),” they said.

During the meeting, according to sources, the name of Member Parliament Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi was proposed by Molvi Muhammad Ashraf, but it was seconded by none.

“Syed Mohd Rafiq, who is also a member of the panel, was not present during the proceedings,” they said.

It is worthwhile to mention that Safina Baig started her political career with the Peoples Democratic Party. She had joined the Peoples Conference in 2021 but later she maintained that she was independent and would remain as an independent candidate.