Congress Supports Owaisi’s Stand for Withdrawal of Additional Payment Charges on Haj Pilgrims

Rohit Kumar

NEW DELHI, May 3: The Congress has supported the demand of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi for the withdrawal of the additional payment of Rs 10,000 each as “differential airfare” sought from the Haj pilgrims due to increase in the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices caused by the West Asia war.

The Congress on Sunday demanded immediate withdrawal of the April 28 circular issued by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, asking the Haj pilgrims to make an additional payment by May 15th, alleging that the circular was issued without justification or prior consultation and was a result of mismanagement by the government.

Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, in a post on “X”, also sought a full refund of all amounts collected under the circular and structural reforms of the Ministry’s management of the Haj pilgrimage. He called for mandatory competitive tendering and a Haj Price Stability Framework before the 2027 season.

Mr Owaisi too had earlier raised a similar demand that the circular mandating the ₹10,000 payment be withdrawn. The AIMIM chief described the move as “not fair,” even as he tagged Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on ‘X’.

“Pilgrims had already paid the full amount in multiple installments over many months. Many of them are elderly, and many are already in Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj. The hardship they face is not only financial. It is the direct consequence of mismanagement and of being treated as a revenue consideration rather than as citizens entitled to basic protection and dignity,” Mr Hussain said.

However, the Ministry of Minority Affairs had defended the decision, terming the process “lawful and in good faith.” “Airlines demanded USD 300 to 400 per pilgrim due to the sharp rise in ATF prices caused by the ongoing West Asia crisis — a global emergency beyond any government’s control. After extensive negotiation and due consultation with stakeholders, the Ministry of Minority Affairs approved a one-time revision of only USD 100 per pilgrim, irrespective of embarkation point — a saving of USD 200 to 300 per pilgrim compared to what airlines originally sought. This is the government absorbing pressure and protecting pilgrims from a far larger burden,” the Ministry posted on X, adding that the Union government was committed to making Haj accessible and affordable.

Dismissing the government’s justification that rising fuel prices had necessitated the additional charge, Mr Hussain said the justification ran contrary to its own claims that the energy sector remained stable and citizens had been insulated against external shocks. “On what basis, then, is this burden being placed specifically on Haj pilgrims? If fuel costs have not warranted a broader public burden, why are pilgrims being asked to absorb this increase at the very last moment, after having already paid in full?” he asked.

“The answer lies not in global aviation pressures but in institutional failure. Private operators, who carry none of the government’s diplomatic leverage or collective bargaining power, offer comparable packages in the open market. This makes the government’s pricing difficult to justify on any administrative or economic grounds. The surcharge is the most visible symptom (of institutional failure): the result of the absence of competitive tendering, the lack of any price-stability mechanism, and the government’s failure to maintain a contingency framework capable of absorbing external cost pressures without passing them on to pilgrims without warning,” he said.

He drew a comparison between the NDA and the previous UPA government’s handling of the Haj pilgrimage. “Under the UPA, private operators were regulated, institutional pricing was kept accountable, and pilgrims were not left to bear the cost of administrative failure. That standard of stewardship is precisely what is absent today,” he said.

The additional payment charge, the April 28 circular issued by the Haj Committee of India, is on account of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has driven ATF costs soaring. Haj pilgrims have been asked to make the payment either digitally or on the Haj Suvidha App using cards or netbanking. They can also pay using a pay-in slip at State Bank of India or Union Bank of India branches.

According to sources from the Telangana State Haj Committee, the extra cost has caught pilgrims unaware. Officials said they too were surprised at the ‘hike.’ “The instructions from the Haj Committee of India came at a time when devotees from some States, like Andhra Pradesh, have already left for the pilgrimage. The instructions should have come earlier. Secondly, for those leaving from Telangana, this is a time when pilgrims will be busy making last-minute preparations. The ₹10,000 may not be a large sum, but it does add to the inconvenience given the timing,” said Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani, Chairman, TGSHC.

As on April 30, as many as 9,960 pilgrims were to make the pilgrimage. As many as 37 women will be traveling without a ‘mehram’ (male companion). The first flight from the Hyderabad embarkation point is slated on May 4.

The last-minute demand for differential fare drew strong objections on social media, and otherwise. Criticizing the circular Mr Owaisi said, “Are pilgrims being punished for going through the Haj Committee? This is just exploitation and nothing else. Most pilgrims are not wealthy; they save money for years to be able to go on Haj. This is not a luxury for them. The circular must be withdrawn immediately, and pilgrims must be refunded the money taken from them,” he wrote and tagged Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu.