J&K leaders seek MEA intervention after Saudi Arabia ‘cancels’ 52,000 Hajj slots for Indian pilgrims
Leaders across party lines in Jammu and Kashmir have sought the Union government’s intervention after a report claimed that Saudi Arabia had cancelled zone allocations for Indians undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage through private tours, leaving over 52,000 pilgrims in the lurch.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the development “deeply concerning” and urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to engage with Saudi Arabia authorities at the earliest to resolve the matter.
Abdullah noted that several Indians had already completed payments for the Hajj pilgrimage this year.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage with the Saudi Arabian leadership about the matter, PTI reported.
“I would like to urge the prime minister... Since he is close to Saudi Arabia, he should urge them... This issue is related to thousands of people,” he said. “It is the dream of every Muslim to go there.”
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti sought the foreign ministry’s intervention and said that...
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