Complaints include forced purchases, inadequate transportation, and unjustified extra charges.
Inferior Transportation Services
One of the main complaints from Kashmiri Hajis is the subpar transportation services they have been provided. While pilgrims from other states are transported in Air Bus Aircrafts of Saudi Airlines, Kashmiri Hajis are made to travel in small Akasa Airlines based Boeing aircrafts. This results in restricted luggage weight, with pilgrims being forced to adhere to weight limits of 5 Kg for check-in luggage and 7 Kg for hand luggage. The remaining 30 Kg of luggage is sent by road via Ahmedabad to Kashmir, causing inconvenience and delays for the pilgrims.
Forced Purchases and Additional Costs
On top of the inadequate transportation services, Kashmiri Hajis have also been forced to purchase items at high prices and incur additional costs. One Haji reported being compelled to buy food at exorbitant prices, as proper meals were not allowed on the journey. This led pilgrims to beg for food from place to place, adding to their discomfort and stress during the pilgrimage.
Unjustified Extra Charges
To add insult to injury, the Haj Committee has demanded an extra payment of ₹10,000 per pilgrim, citing an increase in petrol prices due to the Iran war crisis. This has raised questions among the pilgrims, as they had already paid for the pilgrimage in full according to the agreed rates. The sudden request for extra money has left many Kashmiri Hajis feeling frustrated and cheated by the committee.
Lack of Assistance from State Haj Inspectors
Many Kashmiri Hajis have also expressed disappointment in the lack of support from State Haj Inspectors, who seem more interested in their personal affairs and shopping than ensuring the well-being of the pilgrims. Compared to Delhi based pilgrims, despite JK pilgrims being charged an additional ₹70,000 per pilgrim, still the pilgrims feel neglected and underserved, with their complaints going unheard.
