Haj 2026: Rs 10,000 Airfare Additional Charge Invites Strong Criticism
Asad urges Kiren Rijuju to withdraw the circular
Hyderabad:The Haj Committee of India decision to levy an additional Rs 10,000 airfare on Haj pilgrims due to rising aviation fuel costs amid the West Asia crisis has invited widespread criticism. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded the withdrawal of the hike, while the Congress called this move unjust and exploitative.
Owaisi noted that this measure was taken despite collecting Rs 90,844 per pilgrim a couple of months ago for departure from the Mumbai embarkation point. “This is almost DOUBLE the prevalent rates for individual travellers. Are pilgrims being punished for going through the Haj Committee,” he asked.
“This is just exploitation and nothing else. Most pilgrims are not wealthy, they save money for years to be able to go to Haj. This is not a luxury for them. The circular must be withdrawn immediately, and the pilgrims must be refunded the money taken from them,” Owaisi said in a post on his X handle while tagging Union ministers Kiren Rijuju and K. Ram Mohan Naidu.
Congress senior leader Arham Adil in a media statement said the decision would disproportionately affect ordinary pilgrims, particularly those from modest backgrounds who spend years saving money to undertake the pilgrimage. He pointed out that many families plan carefully and deposit substantial amounts well in advance, leaving little room to accommodate sudden financial demands.
The Haj Committee of India on April 28 issued a circular asking all selected pilgrims to deposit the additional amount by May 15. The directive follows a sharp rise in global oil prices triggered by ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has led to increased airfare, transportation, and overall logistical costs associated with the pilgrimage.
This year, 1,75,025 pilgrims from India are scheduled to perform Haj. The Telangana Haj House will be facilitating over 9,660 pilgrims including 6,660 from Telangana and 12 other states and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar islands. They will be flying from the city to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Haj charter flights through Flynas will operate from May 4 to 21, while return flights from Madina to Hyderabad are scheduled from June 11 to 26.
