AMN
Peoples Democratic Party president and Member Parliament Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday sought the intervention of Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over exorbitant airfare being charged from Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am surprised to learn that Air India last year charged Rs 1.54 lakh as ticket cost per pilgrim for those who had taken flight from Srinagar, when the cost from other embarkation points across the country was around Rs 62,802. It is not only a huge financial burden for pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir but also discriminatory,” she told Swaraj.
Mehbooba said the External Affairs and Civil Aviation Ministries should look into the matter and ensure uniform airfare for Hajj pilgrims across the country.
Mehbooba also demanded improvement in facilities for Hajj pilgrims.
She identified accommodation for pilgrims as a major issue and said there was a need to think about a long-term solution to it.
She also demanded increase in Hajj quota for Jammu and Kashmir.
Swaraj, according a PDP spokesman, assured Mehbooba that the issues raised by her, especially regarding exorbitant air fare, would be looked into.