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| Mehbooba speaks from Mecca | | J&K Hajjis being treated shabbily | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Dec 19
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti in a statement from Mecca (Saudi Arabia) has voiced concern over the alleged poor plight of the Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to many problems faced by the Hajj pilgrims, the PDP leader has asked the state government to take up the matter with the concerned authorities in New Delhi for immediate redress.
Expressing dismay over the shabby arrangements made for their stay in Saudi Arabia, the pilgrims complained that although most of them had booked for A-class accommodation they were lodged in hotels and apartments that offered not even C-class facilities. "There is no water and electricity in the rooms and we are forced to live in congested rooms in appalling hygienic conditions," the pilgrims complained.
The pilgrims also expressed dismay over the reported change of norms by the Air India authorities for Jammu & Kashmir and Varanasi for carrying extra-baggage. "While the standard rate for per kilogram extra baggage is around 11 SRs, we are being asked to pay around 55 SRs per kilogram," the pilgrims said adding that such an unwarranted practice by Air India authorities is uncalled for as the pilgrims on way back home necessarily have added baggage to carry dates and Zumzum water. "We are being told that the extra-baggage would be sent through cargo and not with the passenger," the pilgrims said and added that if the extra-baggage is coming through the Air India cargo, there is absolutely no justification in charging such huge rates for the same as the cargo rates are usually reasonable.
Ms Mufti, who is herself performing the annual pilgrimage as part of the Indian goodwill delegation, assured the pilgrims that in future due care would be taken to ensure proper accommodation for the pilgrims from the State. She has taken up the matter with the Prime Minister's office in New Delhi. She spoke to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office, Mr Prithvi Raj Chauhan in this regard seeking his intervention in mitigating the problems confronting the pilgrims from Jammu & Kashmir. |
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