Srinagar, Oct 28 The All J&K Hajj Umrah Tour Operators’ Association today came down heavily on the ministry of external affairs, government of India, accusing it of allotting less Hajj quota to private tour operators in J&K despite it being the only Muslim majority state in India.
 At a meeting in Delhi today the members said the private tour operators in Kashmir in particular and J&K in general have been allotted a minimal 2010 Hajj quota. “The quota allotted to J&K is even less than that which has been allotted to other states and cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.” The meeting alleged that the private tour operators in Kashmir have been “discriminated against their counterparts and meted out step motherly treatment in regard to the allotment of the quota.”
 The meeting also discussed several other problems the tour operators in Kashmir have been facing. “We are facing lot of problems while getting visas allotted to the passports,” they said, adding that because of this problem the Saudi government had allotted visas less by 20 per cent (from the last year) to J&K. “With the result hundreds of people who were aspiring to go for the holy pilgrimage, could not go,” they said.
 The association said that even as it had several times taken up this issue with the ministry of foreign affairs demanding more quota for J&K given its overwhelming Muslim character, “our pleas have gone futile as the ministry has ignored the Valley tour operators by allotting little quota to it.”
 Meanwhile, the association said that the 2011 Hajj quota is yet to be allotted to the private agencies or the government. It appealed the ministry of external affairs that while allotting the quota for 2011 “it should give due share to the Valley keeping into account the genuine demands of the private operators and Muslim majority in J&K.”
 The meeting held under the chairmanship of Nissar Ahmad Wani, was among others attended by Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah bin Abdullah (from Saudi Arabia), Abdul Majeed bin Abdul Aziz (Amir-e-Mutfiqa, from Makkah-tul-Mukarama), Muhammad Mutaz (from England), Muhammad Ibrahim (South Africa), Muhammad Usman (Kenya), Khalid bin Khalid (Turkey), Abdul Rashid Dar (Kashmir), Mir Wali Waheed (Kashmir), Abdul Khaliq Nagoo (Kashmir) Feroz Ahmad (Kashmir) Mubarak Hussain (Delhi) Mehandi Bayee (U.P.).
 The meeting was also attended by a good number of members of All J&K Hajj Umrah Tour Operators’ Association.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST