Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jul 12: Several Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday have raised serious concerns over the unexpected curtailment of their stay in Saudi Arabia, saying it has disrupted their spiritual journey and caused financial losses.
In a representation submitted to the Executive Officer of the J&K Haj Committee, the pilgrims stated that, as per the original schedule, they were supposed to stay for 40 days in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
They, however, said their return was preponed, cutting the pilgrimage short by several days.
“Only the pilgrims who departed on May 30 were affected. Others were allowed to complete their full stay,” the representation read, adding that the sudden change caused “irreparable spiritual loss” since prayers at Masjid Al-Haram carry immense religious value.
Also, the pilgrims highlighted that despite paying higher charges compared to other states and countries, they received fewer facilities and a shorter pilgrimage experience.
Iftikhar Qadri, one of the pilgrims, said they felt deeply disheartened. “For many of us, this was once in a lifetime. The last few days in the holy city are spiritually very significant, and we were deprived of that,” he said.
Additionally, the pilgrims urged the authorities to investigate the matter, fix responsibility and provide financial compensation. They also demanded compensation for those who were accommodated in hotels located outside the Markazia area.
When contacted, Executive Officer of the J&K Haj Committee, Dr Shujhat Qureshi, said that the matter has already been taken up with the Haj Committee of India.
“We have sent a letter to the central Haj Committee and a reminder was also sent yesterday. We are hopeful that the refund will be provided to the affected pilgrims,” he said.
