Fix pilgrimage rates at par with other states

While the expectations were high that the pilgrimage rate will not be hiked this year again as has been witnessed for the last several years now, the Jammu & Kashmir pilgrims have once been asked to pay the extra amount compared to the Hajj aspirants from other states. If we go through the rates, the J&K Hajj pilgrims will have to pay Rs 91,000 extra than those from Bengaluru while from the Hajj pilgrims from other states, there is a variation of nearly 50,000-90,000. As far as the Jammu & Kashmir Haj Committee (JKHC) is concerned, they were assured that the rates will not hiked this year, but much to their shock and surprise, there is an hike of Rs 10,000 compared to previous year, which has added to the miseries of the Hajj pilgrims from the Union Territory, especially from Kashmir. There are couple of reasons for the abrupt and shocking hike in the pilgrimage rates, which as per the Hajj Committee of India (HCoI) include increase in the dollar rates against INR, suspension of operations by the Go Airlines and non-participation of majority of the airlines in the tenders for Kashmir. However, such an issue has led to the sufferings of the Hajj pilgrims, therefore, the concerned authorities should look into the matter and take some concrete measures so that the pilgrimage rates are fixed at par with the other states and the people here could heave a sigh of relief. The JKHC has already taken up the matter with the concerned officials and there are expectations that the issue will be resolved soon.