Hyderabad, April 30: AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday alleged that the Haj Committee has imposed an additional ₹10,000 charge on pilgrims under the label of differential airfare, raising concerns over financial burden on applicants.
Owaisi stated that the committee had already collected ₹90,844 per pilgrim earlier for departures from the Mumbai embarkation point. However, he claimed that the new demand almost doubles the prevailing airfare rates for individual travellers. Therefore, he questioned the justification behind the additional levy.
He further asked whether pilgrims were being penalised for choosing the Haj Committee route instead of private arrangements. Moreover, he described the move as exploitation, stressing that most pilgrims are not financially strong.
Asaduddin Owaisi Demands Withdrawal of Haj Committee Extra Charges
Owaisi emphasised that Haj is not a luxury for the majority of applicants. Instead, he said, many save money for years to undertake the pilgrimage. Hence, any sudden financial burden places undue stress on them.
He urged authorities to withdraw the circular immediately. In addition, he demanded a refund of the extra amount already collected from pilgrims. He also tagged Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and concerned officials, seeking urgent intervention.
Meanwhile, the issue has sparked debate among community members and stakeholders. Some expressed concern over transparency in fare calculations. Others called for clear communication from authorities to avoid confusion.
However, officials have yet to issue a detailed clarification on the matter. Consequently, uncertainty continues among prospective pilgrims regarding the final cost of travel.
The Haj pilgrimage remains a significant religious journey for Muslims worldwide. Therefore, affordability and transparency in arrangements are considered essential by stakeholders. (Maxim News)
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