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Haj pilgrims appeal to Centre to check airfares
With the Haj season fast approaching, the pilgrims in the State have pleaded with the Central government to ensure that airfares are not jacked up. During the normal times a ticket to Jeddah costs around Rs 24,000 by private airlines but during Haj season, the prices are hiked to around Rs 70,000- Rs 80,000, causing distress to the travellers.
Hyderabad: With the Haj season fast approaching, the pilgrims in the State have pleaded with the Central government to ensure that airfares are not jacked up. During the normal times a ticket to Jeddah costs around Rs 24,000 by private airlines but during Haj season, the prices are hiked to around Rs 70,000- Rs 80,000, causing distress to the travellers.
Following the Supreme Court direction in 2012 to gradually cut back the subsidy, through grants the pilgrims got Rs 20,000 last year. According to sources, a sum of Rs700 crore annually is gained by the airlines form the government. The airlines get more support through the subsidy than the pilgrims do, the source added.
In view of this some muslim leaders met the CPM general secretary, Sitaram Yechury who was in City recently and urged him to take up the issue with the centre. It may be mentioned that he also is member of the travel and tourism committee of the Parliament. They said it would be better if the government calls for global tenders and selects airlines which would operate special flights for the Haj pilgrims.
M Srinivas, CPM city Secretary also discussed the issue with Yechury and explained to him on how the pilgrims were being fleeced by the airlines He said a total of 1,25,025 pilgrims through Haj Committees and 45,000 through private tour operators are likely to perform Haj in 2017. .
The Telangana State Haj Committee has received a total 20,635 applications for which 3,037 were selected under reserved category and 330 under general category. Of the remaining 17,000 people from Telangana, it is believed that about 5,000 people would seek the services of private tour operators.
“When the European nations are providing a discount of about 50 to 60 percent during the season, it is pathetic that air-fares gets doubled in our country,” felt Habeeb Abdul Khader of Bismillah Tours and Travels.
By Md Nizamuddin
